#one time my sister took me to a restaurant on a whim and i was happy to go because i trusted her | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

primalspice · 2 years ago

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Faust: A1, A4, A8, A11, A19, A24, B4, B8, B12, C5, C8, D4, E2, E3, E8, F1, F6, F8, G3, G4, H2, H5, H6, I1, I4, J4, J5, L1, L9

Faust

A1: What of the Meyers-Briggs personality types they most fit into? INFP, ENFT, et cetera…

Whatever an annoying one is LOL I think he could be an ENTP like Ruby but he's a little more emotionally/irrationally driven I think (it's perfectly rational to him, tho). I got ENTJ when I took the quiz for him. Sounds about right.

A4: Are they a pessimist or an optimist?

I think he wants to be optimistic and he does come off that way (he's confident that positive change will happen, he lives like he has many things to look forward to, he lives like he's NOT at death's door and does not even believe that he is), but I'd say he's jaded nowadays at the very least. Thinking that the only way to fix things is to destroy everything first, for example, would be viewed by most as a pessimistic worst-case scenario. He thinks its ok tho.

A18: What instantly irritates them or puts them in a bad mood?

Even though he's very social I think his patience runs short when his Perfectly Planned Alone Time is interrupted or when people become too nosy in regards to what he's up to. Side effects of putting on a front the other 95% of the time. PLEASE he needs time to BROOD AND SCHEME in PEACE.

A24: What are some of your OC’s biggest personal obstacles? This could be emotional, physical, social… Are they aware of it? Are they trying to overcome it?

I think he's struggling most at coping with his declining health and coping with the loss of his sister and the life they used to have. On the outside he kinda looks like he has this perfect life (as perfect as it can get in Region 0, he's the president after all. He LOOKS like he's thriving despite his sicklyness) but it's been full off horrors for the last 3 years or so and he refuses to talk to anyone about it because he knows no one will get it and he doesn't want to seem weak (physically or mentally). He doesn't know how to deal with the loss of all these things and doesn't know how to deal with the fact that he kinda brought it upon himself by coming here on a whim so he finds ways to blame it on anything else. Bad luck, Harvey, the Region At Large…… He's not entirely wrong but he's also not entirely right LMAOO. He kinda gained a Vague sense of fulfillment and power that he yearned for during his pre-regionzero crisis, but lost….everything else LOL. He's not trying to overcome shit because he thinks (KNOWS) he's right. He does feel less panicked though, now that he has a plan.

B4: Do they tip well? How easily can they be moved to not leave a tip?

OF COURSE he tips well he's a classy man. He'd never not tip but he'd definitely leave a passive aggressive note or a bit less than 20% if service wasn't up to his standards. Honestly though I think it's one of the things hes pretty laid back about.

B8: Is your OC considered funny? Do they believe they’re funny?

I think he's funny in a everyone-politely-laughs-at-your-joke-at-a-party way so like. Not extremely but he can get a laugh out of people LOL. I dont think 'funny' is one of the first things he considers himself but he at least believes himself to have a sense of humor. People also think his Canadianisms are funny but that's not on purpose :,3

B12: Your OC orders something to eat and gets their order done in a pretty wrong way, something they can’t just pick off or whatnot to correct, or something major is missing. What do they do?

He says smiles Excuse Me ma'am/sir it looks like there's been a mistake on my order, I actually ordered (xyz) :) OH no worries take your time. I actually used to work at my family's restaurant back in the day, I completely understanflkfhkjhfdkjghkdjfhgkjdfhfdkj

C5: Do your OC’s morals and rules of common decency go out the window when it comes to those they don’t like, or when it’s inconvenient? Aka, are their morals situational?

I think it's more that he never had suuuuper great morals to begin with (ok with lying to people if it helps the situation, ok with Getting Even, etc) but yeah I think he's more willing to use this for evil when he's feeling hateful towards soooomeone...... I think the questionable morals have always existed, they've just been somewhat neutral/useful in a lot of situations. he Is a politician after all.

C8: Is your OC more practical or ideal morally? I.e., do they hold people to high expectations of behavior even if it’s not realistic for the situation, or do they have a more realistic approach and adapt their morality to be more practical?

I think his moral expectations of others are relatively practical and loose and I think thats why he can get along with so many people. He doesn't particularly approve of MANY things but he understands it and is somewhat choosey about what he actually voices. he DOES have outrageous unrealistic expectations as to how people should act though. Never consistently/based on morals, more just based on what he thinks would yield the best result . Pisses him off so bad.

D4: Would they like to be immortal? Why, why not? If they are immortal, would they rather not be?

he would LOVE to be immortal he is so afraid of dying and being dead and not being able to annoy anyone on an earthly plane. No question about it. He's got too much shit to do and too many people to see.

E2: Which of the nine types of intelligence is your OC strongest in? Weakest? (Linguistic, existential, naturalist, et cetera)

I had to google this but i think linguistic and interpersonal would certainly be his strongest. He's great with people and knows how to talk to them. He's not very much a stem-y guy so maybe logic-math would be his weakest.

E3: How many languages do they speak?

He's only fluent in English but canadianisms dictate that he knows a basic conversational amount of french as well.

E8: What’s one of your OC’s biggest regrets?

I think his biggest regret is coming to Region 0 with ivy LOL. he believes it to be the root of all his issues and hes like 95% correct. its a huge regret, but to make up for it he has very few Smaller regrets <3

F1: What sort of home do they live in now, if at all? How did they end up there?

I think that prezzys get to reside in the capital building but I havent actually confirmed that.....but yeah he lives in the Office i guess its like the white house but Not. Prior to that he lived in his very own government-official house, which was honestly preferable to living in such a public spot but he deals with it for the fame <3 and then prior to that he lived with Ivy in their little house, maybe he had one more apartment or somethin in between living with her and getting a major gov job......

F6: How much do they work? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?

as a Public Figure hes kinda always on the clock in a way but i think his actual office work is like a normal average 40 hours. quite tame for a Region Zeroite. As the president he does.....whatever he wants :) he's quite ambitious he's very interested in interacting with the public and making policy. He was quite public-facing at his prior gov jobs as well so he's Used To It. he does enjoy a lot it hes a freakish Job Enjoyer.

F8: How often are they home?

not very often nowadays due to his harvey harassment field trips <3 but he likes to make it home by nighttime regardless. Aforementioned brooding-scheming-alone time ofc.....

G3: Does your OC find their family supportive? If not, what would be an example why not?

He has Feelings about that. He doesn't feel necessarily hated or anything but he does feel a bit like the cringefail twin in comparison to Ivy. she doesnt really do anything to make him feel better about it either even tho thats not her job. He's kinda competitive and its really hard to beat like. Perfect Angel Doctor Twin. HE feels less liked due to that but i dont think he actually is. As for if he finds ivy supportive during Region 0 Times, no of course not and she Isnt but i guess the time where he could actually be upset about that has passed. if she chooses not to hear him out about his plan to make them an epic life then that is her problem <3

G4: What kind of childhood did your OC have?

his childhood was tragically normal and happy. middle-class family, good relationship with his family, etc. he's always been this social too. going into his teenage years he never really had much Direction but that was never a huge problem, just kinda Emotionally Unfulfilling.

H2: Is your OC a thoughtful partner, in whatever aspect of that you want to cover?

He's very thoughtful especially in that he has a great sense of what others like and dislike. Definitely a gift-giving / acts-of-service love language kinda guy and very good at it and is good at reading how the other is feeling. unfortunately the thoughtfulness is not the problem its everything else </3

H5: Does your OC believe in marriage (or their culture’s equivalent)?

yes almost as much as he believes in divorce

H6: Has your OC ever cheated on anyone or been cheated on?

yes <3

I1: What are their favorite kinds of flavors– Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, creamy, et cetera?

idk i dont think hes super picky but he does enjoy sweets. like fancy coffee, chocolate, etc kinda Rich and Complex treats tho hes kinda bougie like that.

I4: How often do they cook? Do they order out a lot?

its pretty much 50/50. going out to eat is often a Dinner Social thing for him and its always nice, but if he's not up for it he'll either get food delivered to/made for the office or cook something simple for himself. sometimes he just dont eat, his appetite is pretty Lacking nowadays.

J4: Is your OC the sort to fall for fake news? If not, do they ignore it or make a point to clarify that it’s wrong?

hilarious question. theres many elements at play here LOLLL YES he is susceptible to it because he's New Here and doesn't know the history. YES he is susceptible bcz he LOVES believing things he assumes even if they arent true. HOWEVER he also loves researching and reading critically and mansplaining about things that are wrong.

J5: Are they or would they protest for a cause they’re passionate about?

yes and In A Way he is <3 he's not often passionate enough to go do something about it but when he Is i think he is capable of making quite an impact.

L1: How have your characters changed since you created them?

tbh not a ton??? his design and personality is still quite similar (annoying), i think the most important thing was a matter of figuring out what exactly his problem Is (cancer, ivy dying, what exactly he's supposed to do about that....). so basically he's more evil now <3

L9: How did you come up with your OC?

tbh all i remember is i took kinda a long time trying to come up with a design for him. i think once he came into the picture it actually made room for plot to Happen bcz hes an antagonist n all but it kinda just Happened i dont think i designed him solely with that purpose. beamed into my brain.

#faust #ask game

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thecontumacious · 2 years ago

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Hey hey! Yandere request please :)

Gn reader who is madly in love with the boys and for a yandere x yandere kind of thing?

Mutual Interests

a/n: anddd we're back again with one of my favorite tropes in fanfiction ^^ my sister kept asking me if i was mentally okay when she read through this 😭 if you haven't checked out my last yandere fic w/ luxiem, here it is! i referenced back to this a lot tbh

warning: contains mentions of violence, suicide, r-pe, drug misuse, stalker behavior, kidnapping and gore. please read at own risk.

disclaimer: if you experience these kinds of things, whether yourself or on other people, please report this to professionals. this is not healthy behavior. i also do not mean to glorify any and all actions mentioned. it is meant for entertainment purposes.

reminder that all my work and others in the fandom are purely fiction and intended to entertain, not to be projected irl.

⚠️ dark content utc! proceed with caution! ⚠️

Vox Akuma 👹🌹

he first met you in a nightclub, unsurprisingly.

in anyone' eyes, it would've just looked like you and him were interested in each other from each end of the club. you dancing wildly on the dance floor while he sat by the bar watching you

but to the demon?

well, he's seen his fair share of beautiful bodied humans.

ah yes, he found humans' bodies to be more pleasurable than his own kind. probably because they just seem to falter and be vulnerable under him? probably.

but you. you.

to the father in the heavens and the spirits in the pits of hell, you had a body and charm no one else had. you made the humans around you look like useless trash, nothing compared to you

as you continued to dance, vox sips his drink imagining the different things he could do to you.

however he has to keep his composure that humans don't work the way demons usually do.

so he had to take it slow, step by step.

else he would be no different than the people throwing themselves at you, straight up asking for a good fucking without much to begin with.

you held more class than that, he could tell. you were rejecting their every whim after all.

after a round of dancing, you finally retire to the bar, only a few stools from vox.

he took this as his chance, giving you one of his (literally) devilish smiles. "good evening. tired from all the dancing?"

"how about you, kind sir? haven't lost it to the alcohol yet?" you tease, snickering afterwards.

to vox, it seemed like you were asking for it.

"i handle my drinks better than anyone in this club, mind you," he chuckles back, placing his glass down. "come, let me get you a drink. what would you like?"

you hum, resting your chin on your hand. you mention your drink to him and he calls the bartender for your order.

"your usual place on saturday nights like this?" vox inquires, leaning closer.

you nod, "pretty much, yeah."

"your drink," the bartender slides the glass over to you, to which you glug down quickly, parched from the dance floor.

"slow down now," the demon laughs.

you shake your head, gulping the burning beverage down your throat. "says the one who's been ordering drinks longer than i have."

even the way you spoke is testing him. he really is trying his best to hold back from taking you then and there.

thus became the first of many nights you and vox would meet up together.

oh, no, he was a gentleman the entire time!

he would properly take you home after a day's outing. he never forgets to bring you gifts whenever you agreed on a date.

not once did vox even mention he would like to 'sleep' with you the entire time.

because he knew it's not time yet.

when it's time, he'll pounce. he won't ever let you go after that happens. your body will become his.

"lovely to see you, darling," vox greets, handing you a bouquet of flowers as soon as you reached the restaurant you promised to meet up in

you giggle, taking the gift graciously. "how sweet. my house will turn into a flower shop with the many you bring me every time, vox."

"what can i say? i can't not bring one if i keep meeting up with a pretty person."

"oh, now you're too flattering," you sit across him, setting the flowers in your lap. "have you ordered?"

"yeah. i know what you like anyway," he shrugs, crossing his arms on the table to lean towards you. vox smirks, tilting his head, "so, tell me about your day, love."

to be completely honest without a hint of malice, vox never usually does this. if he's interested in a human especially, things would not have taken this long

the easiest way to explain it would be:

'waiting makes the results much more enjoyable'.

at least, for vox.

look at you, chattering away with your plump lips about your job, or some friends you met up with that day. your pretty long lashes fluttering like you're seducing him.

he would do anything to just throw you on that fucking table and ravage that sweet neck of yours, uncaring if it was a public area

perhaps, today would be the day.

as you continue to speak, vox fingers the sleeping pills in his pocket.

"gimme a sec, vox. bathroom," you stand, smiling.

"go ahead."

the perfect time to drug your food.

the bathroom door behind you closes and vox pulls out the already crushed pills, adding almost thrice the supposed dose. besides, he didn't want you to be awake during the entire time

you could be screaming, struggling, begging him to stop when he clearly wanted to keep going

he'll save that session for another time.

you return, sitting back down to eat again.

it was only a matter of time before those pills start to settle in

but with three times the dose vox put in, it really shouldn't take much time.

and it does.

once you got in the car, you've fallen asleep without saying a word to him. he chuckles to himself, taking your hand in his as he drove you back to his house where you'll be staying

for the rest of your life

vox sets you by his mattress, still heavily asleep, as he grabs the ropes from under his bed. red, his favorite color of course.

he strips you in a matter of minutes, leaving nothing but you in your own skin. just the sight of it is enough to make vox lose it. how was he gonna handle you later?

with expertise, the demon bounds your wrists and feet to the bedpost, tight enough that you couldn't even move an inch. you're spread out, nothing to hide.

just as vox was about to begin, you suddenly groan.

he freezes.

for a second he thought he was just mishearing, given how excited he was. but your eyes are fluttering open, pupils looking around your surroundings figuring out where you were and why the fuck you were naked spread out on a bed you didn't recognize

"vox?" you grumble, trying to get up. but you realize you're tied down.

he sighs, his moment of enjoying you for the first time absolutely ruined. seems like he was going to have to--

"fuck," you suddenly whine.

vox looks at you, and your face... god, your face was so deliciously red. were you enjoying this? why did you--

"fuck, vox, please," you beg, your hands clenching onto the ropes that held onto you. "do it already. do you fucking know how long i've waited?"

once he's sure that you're actually serious about what you're saying, he chuckles, leaning down to kiss your tear filled eyes. "i'm sorry, beloved. i'll get on with it."

"thank you!" you chirp, nuzzling into his neck. "can i ask for a favor?"

"hm? what is it, sweet thing?"

you look him in the eyes, pleading once more, "can you use a knife?"

oh you really were different.

"of course, my love," vox gets off you for a moment and pulls out a knife, freshly sharpened it seems. it makes your cheeks grow even redder at the sight of it, imagining how the demon will rake it down your body.

"use it on me, please. do with it what you want," you desperately request of him. "no, kill me when you're done. please, vox. i've always wanted to be killed by you. and only you..."

good fucking thing he took his sweet time with you, huh?

"kill you?" he smirks, once again straddling you on his bed. the cold blade meets the side of your body, sending shivers down your spine. "darling, i've got something better than killing you."

your eyes glimmer excitedly.

"now, shall we begin?"

what would be better than to be killed by the one you love, you ask?

oh, you know.

torture.

you forgot just how many times he slashed that knife over your skin, forever going to leave a scar there but not enough to kill you. he'd stab where it wouldn't meet any of your organs and lap away at the blood that leaks

you realized then that this was better than being killed

vox edging you of your death, then coming back up to inflict more love soaked wounds.

the sun rises and it's only then did the demon stop, panting from the much fun he's had since a century ago. he looks at you, half dead, covered in your blood like a sacrifice to the devil himself.

then he unties your ropes and places the blood caked knife in your hand with an aroused smile.

you look at him, dazed, "hm?"

"do it to me too, love. stab me, break me, mutilate me if you want," he breathes, pressing the hand holding the knife against his stomach. vox grins, "i'm immortal after all."

you peck his nose, driving the blade into his flesh, eliciting a pleasured and pained moan from the demon.

"let me get to work then, darling."

Mysta Rias 🦊🔶

the reality is:

you've never met mysta and he's never met you in person. you have never swapped even a word with this man so it's likely you never knew he existed.

but it didn't matter

the universe had already given you to him so he'll swallow all the small opportunities to see you

to be more exact, how mysta even knew about you was simply because you were in line to get your groceries checked out

the way you smiled at the cashier and how you gently spoke to them

he thought you were an angel that descended upon this disgusting world

what was someone as divine as you doing here?

the people here are going to taint your innocence.

that was it.

mysta wished nothing else than to have you all to himself, an angel that belonged only to him, smiled only at him, did everything only for him.

he wanted to save you from this world, and that became his only life mission upon meeting you.

so he followed you home that day, making sure that he tailed you without arousing any suspicion from both you and the people around him. but if people asked, he could easily show them his detective badge, reasoning he was only doing his job

it's worked so far

from his work of crimes, mysta knows that ambushes and the element of surprise always worked best. that's why he chose to hide away from you, wanting to enjoy you a bit more before he did what he had to do

mysta giggles at the thought

once you reached your home, he knew he couldn't continuing watching you from the window. someone will call the cops on him for that.

so, he jots down your address and returns home

he's got a camera lying around somewhere... ah, there it is. still usable and the sd card seems to be empty.

he was determined to have it filled with only you, you and you

"i'm sure i had a stuffed bear lying around here somewhere," mysta whispers to himself, ruffling through his old items in search of said toy. surely, you wouldn't mind a special gift from a secret admirer?

of course not

he couldn't imagine you driving away an innocent present like a stuffed bear!

that night, mysta learns how to plant the camera inside the bear. he surprises himself with how truly harmless it looked from the outside.

in the morning, he hurriedly makes his way to your door and places his gift down, ringing the doorbell before running away.

you open the door seconds later and do indeed find the animal down at your feet. you pick it up then look side to side, wondering who could have left the object. but you shrug and came back inside with the gift.

mysta grins and opens his phone, connecting with the camera inside the bear.

through the screen, he sees you carry the bear around your before deciding to put it on your bed.

perfect.

the detective went home, satisfied.

he was going to need a lot more gifts and cameras for this.

for mysta, it was an obsession from the start. the moment he saw you smiling for the world, that was it for him. this world didn't deserve your smile. and only he could save you.

every few weeks, a gift would appear by your door and you'd place it all over your apartment, much to mysta's fortune. he'd study how you walk around the apartment, memorized your routine, what times you woke up on specific days, what meals you ate, what you liked doing when at home

god it felt like the most fantastic movie he's ever watched in his entire life

but then cameras and anonymous gifts became insufficient for mysta.

he needed to feel for himself how soft your blankets were, the smell of your pillow, the specific shampoo and soap you used.

he needed to be there.

so after some consideration, mysta finally made it to your apartment in the dead of night. with trial and error, he also made it past you door and he breathes in the scent of your home

it made him go crazy and the fact he was in your apartment right now was too much for him to take

but mysta walks on, closing the door behind him as he inspects all the things you kept. he now knows what cereals you ate, what milk you go for, what bath items you personally liked.

then he enters your bedroom where you're fast asleep, curled up under the blanket

"you look so fucking adorable," mysta whispers, covering his cheeks with the back of his hand to feel just how warm they were. how could they not be? he was in the presence of you again...

he looks around the area, learning more of your favorite colors from your outfit choices, books you were interested in and the small things that you liked in life

then he stops by your underwear drawer.

his hands shake even at the mere thought of having one to himself. you wouldn't notice one pair missing, right?

a souvenir from his first day seeing you again would be nice too

so he pockets one, smiling.

mysta finally stands near your bed. he kneels down and breathes silently as he comes in close contact with you. look at you. look.

so fucking gorgeous. the world truly didn't deserve you.

his finger makes it to your cheek, creating a single sloppy circle then it travels down to your plump lips. he traces every inch of it, his mind drawing the scene where he would kiss these beautiful lips of yours

he could very well do it right now...

mysta leans in close, his nose brushing against you and his lips hovering just over yours.

but something stops him.

maybe... maybe not now. better not to push my luck.

so he pulls away and exits your home.

once more, satisfied.

he promised himself that his visits wouldn't be too often. once a week maybe. but mysta is not one to to commit himself to something. once a week became thrice a week. then it became every single night.

in the day he would watch you from his cameras, his hands aching to feel your things and your body. and in the night, as you finally fall asleep, he would enter your home like it was his own.

well, it might as well be.

his souvenir picking became even bizarre too.

from clean underwear became to ones you've worn, your old photos, your clothes that he would wear. at first, he would return them, but with time, he kept them. hung them up on his walls or put the special ones under his pillow so he could somewhat have a piece of you before he falls asleep

at this point, mysta would use your apartment like it was your own. used your electricity, your water, ate your food. and when he left for the night, he would never forget to place a ghostly kiss on your forehead, not really brave enough for your lips somehow

so it could help him feel like he was living with you.

but there was something he noticed.

while you'd usually keep your clothes inside, they're now laid out in the open. even some of your undergarments.

more of your precious items were carelessly placed.

wh-why was there a second toothbrush in the sink? an extra towel? two bottles of your usual shampoos and soaps?

could you have possibly known he was in the apartment? why the fuck were you indirectly welcoming him in like this?

afraid at the realization, mysta decides it was time to go. so he hastily while still being quiet exits out of your bedroom.

but just before he could grab the doorknob, something tugs at his shirt.

"leaving already, darling? you usually stay longer..."

h-huh??

mysta turns on his heel and he sees you, gripping onto his shirt tight while rubbing your eyes. wh-what?

"come on, you haven't even kissed me goodbye yet," you pout, pulling him closer to you.

his heart is in his throat, beating rapidly as he doesn't know what to do. so you did know. why the heck did that make you seem even more perfect? you beautiful angel...

god fuck

"you thought i didn't know?" you smile, giggling as you nuzzled into his neck. "baby, you go to my apartment all the time. but you never notice when i go to yours?"

now that he thought about it, he would sometimes find some of his things misplaced. but he thought that was just him being a klutz again

"i-i..."

you grin at his loss of words, wrapping your arms around his waist. "you're so cute, darling. always have been. can i have a real kiss now?"

what is happening--

"mysta, my love, please?"

oh. oh god. the way you said his name.

the detective finally comes to his senses, a blush spreading across his cheeks as he held your face and for the first time finally kissed you right on the lips.

the way you kissed right back, holding him by the back of his head excitedly.

"i love you, y/n," mysta whispers against your mouth, the passion dripping from his words.

you smile and respond, "i love you too, mysta."

then you pull away, much to his dismay. "hey."

"hm?"

"wanna die together?"

how did you...

"you like to talk aloud in your sleep, my love," you giggle. "i'd be lying if i said i didn't want the same. you're too precious for this world... and you don't need it either. it's just going to take you away from me one day."

mysta suddenly brings you in for a tight hug, a choked sob escaping his lips. "god, i love you. i love you. i love you. yes we can die together, sweetheart."

at this, you tug on mysta's hand with the biggest smile on your face. "come on, come on! i've always wanted to die during a sunrise."

"oh really?" he laughs, following you out.

you drag him up the stairs all the way to the top floor of the apartment complex.

with the sky looking more bright, it was only a matter of minutes before the sun decided to peek through. but mysta was glad. he could spend the last minutes of his life with you

and now you and him will soon be together forever.

him and his beautiful angel...

you climb onto the railing, balancing on your feet as you offer your hand to mysta. "come on, love."

he smiles at you then stands just next to you. "i dreamed of this moment so much."

"yeah, i know. i'm glad you and i can be together in the end mysta. i was worried that you wouldn't ever notice."

he laughs, "sorry about that darling."

then, the sky becomes bright and the sun is right there, saying both hello and goodbye to you.

mysta feels you squeeze his hand.

"i love you so much, mysta."

he was gonna save you. and this was it. this was all he needed.

he brings your hand to his lips, pressing one last kiss. "i love you so much, y/n. my angel."

you smile at each other, all before gravity decides to envelop you both in its embrace, never to walk the earth again.

Luca Kaneshiro 🦮🔆

luca was minding his own business, watching over the casino on one of his free nights with a drink in his hand. it was incredibly boring though.

just the usual snobby rich heads flaunting their financial statuses to each other.

it reeked of trash in there, despite the millions worth of money in building said casino.

so luca excused himself for the night and goes to the backstreet when he sees someone being harassed by some uncivilized crooks.

ugh, be it upper or low class, people really were absolute garbage.

luca rolls his eyes, pulls out his gun and easily shoots the men by the head without missing a single target.

their bodies drop dead and reveals you, your face splattered with your harassers' blood.

the mafia boss' heart suddenly skips a beat at the rather gruesome scene before him. but it was because of the messy crime scene that made his adrenaline rush.

your pretty face among the dead.

luca smiles, approaching you while offering you his handkerchief.

"rough night?" he asks, kicking away the bodies at his feet.

you sigh, taking his aid and wiping away the blood. "thanks, but yeah, these guys just show up out of nowhere."

"well, you did take the road in a suspicious looking backstreet," luca points out, causing you to blush red. he chuckles.

"fa-fair point..."

"need an escort home? you do have a pretty face," he grins, offering you his hand. you look at it, then back at him, your eyes flickering with shyness.

"u-um, no thanks. i'll be careful from now on," this time, you completely avoid his gaze, ears blood red. you skitter away, waving softly at him, "th-thanks again!"

that's it.

luca liked you.

just the way you hide away from his advances, not out of disgust. but more out of embarrassment. so shy and precious... luca had to have you.

even the mere thought of someone else making you shy like that

it made luca's blood boil and instinctively reach for his gun, his fingers itching to fire his entire cartridge just to stave his unfathomable jealousy

his mafia life could be so boring after all.

nothing but business in the dark, murdering people who didn't do their job well (and occasionally those he didn't like) and making sure his record is clean, far away from the reach of the police

he was so used to seeing fearful expressions, sometimes ones that were so serious like they'd never heard of a joke. perhaps he'd get the rare chance of a woman or two smiling for him, offering something he'd like, but they all have under-the-surface motives

they were all the fucking same.

it was just so monochromatic.

but then there was you.

the first person in his life to smile and thank him so genuinely without asking for anything in return.

the mafia life is all about trading one eye for the other.

but with you, it's the other way around

and luca liked it. no, was obsessed with the concept.

so, he had his men track you down. find out what you liked, where you worked, who your family was, if you... had a partner. he specifically asked them to bring both their kidneys if they found out you had one.

but to his fortune, you weren't seeing anyone at the moment.

then, luca finally decided it was time to pay you a visit during your work time. his own work was getting bored after all.

he promised himself he wouldn't touch anyone today, for your sake really. luca had to accept that blood and gore wasn't everyone's favorite...

so he strolled right into the building where you worked, ignoring anyone who tried to stop him as he went up to ask a random employee where you were.

"u-um, they're on the second floor, sir," they answer, pointing towards the elevator.

"thanks!" he pats their back before going to the designated floor, your favorite flowers and snacks in hand to help win you over for an impromptu date. if your boss fired you for ditching work, luca brought his knife with him to cut off a few fingers to do the exact opposite

just in case

once the elevators let him out, luca's joyful mood suddenly dissipates when he hears angry screams. he wouldn't have minded them if your name wasn't thrown around the room.

from the corner, he sees you standing still, your face dark as your employees look at you with irritation, your boss? supervisor? whoever the asshole was scolding you for doing something so poorly

how dare someone insult and embarrass you like this? his precious and cute y/n...

luca's gun is begging to him to be used. to empty his full cartridge.

but for you, he took a deep breath and waltzed right in.

"hey, who are you? you're not authorized personnel!" an employee yells, moving forward to stop luca from stepping in any further. but with a demon looming inside the mafia boss, said employee shivers when he meets with luca's eyes, backing away almost immediately.

"y/n, honey!" he sang, grabbing the attention of the entire floor.

you turn to him, eyes wide.

"sorry, who are you, sir?" the person who was screaming at you raised an eyebrow at him.

"you don't want to know," luca giggles, circling his arm around your waist. although he seemed to be smiling, the aura leaking off of him was not safe.

at the icky feeling, the man takes one step back. "it doesn't matter. we're in the middle of an important conversation."

"looks like a torturing session to me though," luca tilts his head, curling his lip like a child. "you're a bad boss for scolding them in front of everyone else, you know."

"they're my employee, i can do what i want," he hisses.

the mafia boss takes a deep breath in, ignoring his urges to just fucking gut the man. "they're my partner. it's my duty to protect them from bad people. like you and everyone breathing in this building."

you look at him, confusion lacing your face but the fact he was protecting and defending you was enough not to ask any questions yet.

he then proceeds to hand you your gifts, flashing you a sweet smile, "come on, honey. you obviously don't want to be here. my car is waiting outside."

luca tugs you away to the exit, but the man from before yells again like it's the only thing he can do, "hey! it's still working hours!"

BANG

"can you shut up for once? you're making sound pollution."

the bullet hit the windows, but luca did that on purpose. the screaming was giving him a headache for fuck's sake.

he tugs on your hand again, "let's go, hon."

once in the car, all you can do is bite your lip as you stare at your flowers and snacks. shaken? nervous? afraid?

luca sighs, grabbing your chin softly to look at him. "how long have they been doing this to you, baby?"

you can't help but tear up, hiccupping, "right when i started work..."

as angry as he was though, you came first. your heart was tired. so luca leaned in and pressed a kiss to your forehead, hoping it would help your mental scars.

how fucking dare these people make you cry?

"it'll be okay, honey," he whispers, squeezing your hand. "come on, let's get something to eat. you don't need that job. i'm luca, by the way."

you finally smile.

there it is, the smile he'd been aching to see since you last met.

after your outing together, it was safe to say that you were in a different place now. you were smiling much more and laughing to luca's jokes.

still shy whenever he teased you.

yes, only to him. he'll make sure that happens soon...

he took you home, walking you to the door.

you turn to him, "thank you for today, luca. i hope i get to see you again."

he laughs, "of course we will! i'll come get you again tomorrow."

"of course," you giggle, opening the door. "i'll see you tomorrow then, luca."

"oh and by the way."

"hm?"

luca smiles, "i'll be sending you a gift soon. i hope you'll like it."

a very one of a kind gift.

"oh? i'm excited to see it," with one final laugh, you enter your home then wave at luca. "get home safe, okay?"

"i will!"

then he's off.

to get your gift of course.

he sits in his car, takes out his phone and makes a quick call. he growls when the line finally connects, "find me all the employees who work at y/n's workplace."

"roger, sir."

in a matter of minutes, he receives the list. all from the very top of the organization to the lowest. there was your name, one of the lower employees it seemed, despite being at the company for a long time.

he chuckles to himself, tapping the gun buried in his pocket.

he was finally going to use that chainsaw in his trunk. luca was worried that it would start to break down before he even got to use it...

you awoke the next morning to the doorbell ringing. groggily, you get out of bed and check who it is , but is surprised to see a black box sitting by the end of your door.

a note sits atop it, handwritten and scented.

you bring it back inside first while reading the note

'good morning honey <3 i hope you had a good sleep and also like the present i got for you. it was a little hard to get but i would do anything for my sweet honey~'

you smile, putting the paper aside and lift the lid of the box.

you are face to face with your boss' head, eyes still open and a bullet hole between his eyes.

meanwhile, luca is at his office getting some work done when he receives a text from you.

'i loved the gift, luca! i might actually have a gift for you too~ wanna see it?'

his colorful life with you starts to saturate even more, the feeling of love blooming even more from the underside of his heart. shocked as he was, his ache to see you only grew wilder. he needed you there with him right now

he knew you were different the moment he met you

practically not afraid of the bodies that drop dead at your feet.

so luca rushes to your house, knocking on the door fervently.

as quickly as he came, you open the door for him and drag him inside with the biggest grin on your face. it didn't help how your cheeks were bright red from joy.

"hurry! i want you to see it!" you giggle, pushing him inside the house.

he merely chuckles, letting you lead him. you then stop together in front of a closet. you point at it, beckoning for him to open the door himself. "go on, luca!"

"alright," he grins, twisting the door knob open.

wait... he's seen her face before. wasn't she that waitress he saw a few days ago?

well of course, only this time she's completely and utterly lifeless. her eyes gouged out leaving empty dark sockets behind.

"oh, wow," luca widens his eyes, looking towards you.

you hiss, glaring at the dead woman, "she was flirting with you. i didn't like it so i got rid of her so you would only smile at me from now on."

luca stares at you, his heart beating against his chest.

so adorable. yet as crazy as him.

how perfect.

suddenly, the mafia boss picks you up and spins you around the hallway, causing for you to burst out laughing despite being in the presence of the deceased

of course that didn't matter! he was with the love of his life after all.

"i only wished i could've seen you do it in front of me, honey!" luca smiles, putting you down to nuzzle his nose against you. "next time, call me when you want to take care of someone. i'd love to see you go crazy."

you giggle, nodding. "i promise."

Ike Eveland 🖋💙

he first met you when he went on a stroll around the park, simply trying to get a breath of fresh air in his mundane life

he saw your beautiful form sitting on a bench busily drawing on your sketchpad, your eyes laser focus on the subject before you. it was love at first sight for ike.

at that moment, he wished nothing more than to have your eyes focus on him. drawing him. and him only.

all his life, he's been trained to create something about someone. but he longs for when someone creates something out of him for once.

so, ike chose you.

he knew how other people worked. other people wouldn't simply say yes to be his lover on the spot and well, suddenly change their life so it could revolve only around him

well, ike wished you would do that but since it was his lovely darling, he was willing to be extra patient for you

he approached you, keeping his beating heart at bay as he spoke to you for the first time, "hello there, can i sit next to you?"

you look up from your sketchpad, flashing only the prettiest smile ike has ever seen in his life. "yeah, i don't mind. go ahead."

you give him one more smile before redirecting your attention back to your work, pencil tip already back to creating shapes on the paper

ike steals a glance at what you're working on

and he knew he made the right choice to approach you

it was absolutely beautiful

every single stroke of your graphite was flawless. all your lines shape your subject according to the image in your mind.

an image ike wished was him.

although he meant to merely glance, he finds himself staring at you continue to draw. the more he did, the more he wished he could ask you to have him as your subject

but ike had to hold himself back

so when the right time comes, all his waiting would be worth it

"you're a very skilled artist," ike comments. you turn to him in surprise, red rushing to your cheeks and ears at his compliment.

that's it. blush only for me, sweetheart.

you grip your pencil nervously, laughing softly. "th-thank you, sir. i practice."

"i can see that," ike smiles, leaning towards you a bit to take a quick inhale of your scent. oh how sweet... he was bound to remember your unique smell. "how long have you drawn?"

"as long as i can remember. it's my favorite pastime," you answer, a glimmer of passion in your eyes.

lord, only 60 seconds in and you've captured his heart completely. ike begins to imagine all the nights you've stayed up for just to master your skills, all the different drawings you've done in the past

and his selfish wish to have all your future drawings once again, only of him

nothing and no one else but him

he followed you that day back home, and once he's written down your exact address, he returns himself and heads straight for his writing desk

he wanted to write so bad upon walking past the doorframe.

all because he couldn't get you out of his mind

you've become his muse after all, so the inspiration comes spilling out. so much so ike does not want to even waste a single drop of it

he could render his wrist useless for all he cares, but he desperately needed to write about you

about your gentle voice, about your beautiful eyes, about your skilled hand in drawing, about your mind-driving scent

ike was going to drill your very existence into the history of the earth himself

every single day, he made sure that he would "coincidentally" meet you out in public. this would make a good excuse for him to keep interacting with you without having to dig for your information without your knowledge

befriending you first was his strategy

once he makes sure that you are wrapped around his finger, it's only then he will make his move

but ike knew that this method was going to feel like being burnt alive. far too painfully slow.

he just wanted to have you all to himself. have you draw him everyday as he wrote about you everyday. he deserved this after everything he's done for you.

oh the way you greeted him hello, offered him something to drink when he came over, or when you were excitedly talking about an art project you were working on

do you have any idea how you're squeezing and twisting ike's heart?

so he finally takes his chance.

he takes your sleeping self to his house in the dead of night, tucking you in his bed like you truly belonged there. actually, who was he kidding? you did belong there. always have and always will.

look at you, so helpless and innocent.

ike smiles to himself, the blush on his cheeks appearing upon really settling that you finally belonged to him.

but that smile falters when he sees scars near your shoulders and thighs.

something dark envelops ike.

who did this? who would dare hurt his darling?

but according to how he's monitored you, it couldn't have been anyone. you didn't often go out to meet people (besides him of course) and you lived alone.

he figured he could just ask you in the morning

ike half expected you to panic and run for help when you cracked your eyelids open, starting to accuse him of kidnapping you.

but as he patiently sips his drink when you sit up, he is beyond caught by surprise.

"ike? am i in your bedroom?" you ask, half awake.

he chuckles at you, "yes, darling. you are."

you raise an eyebrow at him, "why?"

ike puts his book and cup aside, crawling over to your side. "because you belong here, my love. don't you know? you are mine."

he's expecting the scream of terror, or the paling up of your face.

but you only frown, disappointed?

"you don't by any chance brought my art tools with you, did you?" your lips curl at him, your voice so fragile like you were about to cry.

now ike is the one to raise his eyebrow in question, "no? is that what you need, darling? i could go get them for you as long as you stay here."

your eyes light up immediately then you hold his hand, nodding. "yes, please! it's in the furthest room in the apartment. the one i never show you before. just take the whole bag, okay?"

still heavily confused but not one to refuse your every request, ike nods and places a kiss on your forehead before standing up. "be a good boy/girl and stay, alright? i won't be long."

you giggle, waving.

back at your apartment, he goes to the specific room you were talking about. it was true he's never seen it before, since you never showed him and whenever he asked, you always brush him off.

what was in this anyway?

ike cracks the door open and he is astonished by the inside.

all four side of the rooms, even the floors and ceilings, even the furniture were drawn upon. whether that be the wooden chairs, the bare walls, papers or canvas.

what makes ike's heart skip a beat is the fact they're all drawings of him. all in different angles.

the accuracy... god, you were talented.

the next thing he noticed is the strong scent of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. why would you need...?

then ike realized just what you used as your drawing mediums.

hydrogen peroxide...the scars on your body...

tears prick the novelist's eyes, so glad to have met the most perfect person in the world.

how long have you been doing this? as long as he did perhaps? no matter, he'll pick up your... artwork later.

ike takes the bag you mentioned and goes back to his house, but he's worried the moment you are not in his room.

"darling?" he calls out, but you don't answer. ike begins to panic, checking every door for you when he finds you in one of his mysterious rooms.

yes, he did the same exact thing.

you stare at the room before you, the walls plastered with papers filled with poems and stories about you. written in the same medium you did with your paintings of ike.

your cheeks are burning red, a wide smile decorating your beautiful face as you turned to ike.

"did you like my work at home?" you giggle.

"did you like mine?" ike smirks, hooking you by the waist to bring you closer. "oh, my beautiful little artist."

you rest your head on his shoulder. "my beautiful writer."

such a matching pair indeed.

"move your head a bit to the side, love. yes, that's it," you clap your hands excitedly with one paint brush in hand. ike chuckles at your cute reaction, readying his quill and an inkwell filled with your blood.

he says, "can we start?"

you nod, dipping your tool into the jar of his blood mixed with rubbing alcohol. "let's create together, ike."

you two were going to engrave each other's existence into history, no matter if the world liked it or not.

art always has been an enigma in itself.

Shu Yamino 🔮✨

he was in a rush that day when he dropped his wallet after leaving a cafe. so much to do, so little time.

but he stops when he hears someone call his name as soon as he got onto the street. he turns around and sees you, the same cashier who served your order just before he left.

shu then sees you waving his wallet in the air, patting his pocket where it would've been.

it's this human kindness that makes his heart skip a beat for you.

you approach him, smiling while panting, given you've had to run after him. wallet in hand, you say, "you forgot this, sir!"

but he's too busy staring at you like you had grown ten more heads, receiving the wallet which you were handing back to him. "u-um, yeah... "

"be a bit careful next time, okay?" you giggle, dusting off your pants. "well, best you go on then! you were obviously rushing. i gotta go back to work too."

"ca-can i ask for your name?" shu nervously asks, pocketing his wallet. he had to. he had to get to know you. there was no way he was going to let you go, this kind hearted person.

"y/n," you smile. "and you?"

"i'm shu," he responds. "it was nice meeting you, y/n. i gotta go now though."

nodding, you wave at him as you jog back to your workplace again.

surely the cameras in your cafe were going to be easy to hack into.

he wasn't crazy. he was just... interested in you.

people nowadays are selfish. people only do things for their own things. sure they might do something for someone, but in the end, they'd ask for something in return. shu was both sick and used to this.

so when he received his wallet back from you, of course he'd be intrigued.

how could a human being be so kind...?

the next day, shu returns to your cafe in much better circumstances, hoping to see if it was your shift. luckily for him, it was. you busy yourself with cleaning tables around the cafe, humming to the current song playing

shu realizes then how absolutely beautiful you were. it was probably because he was in a nick of time yesterday that he couldn't notice much of your face

but with the slow pace of the day, he sees it now

of course, only the kindest people are beautiful. working so hard, smiling at all the customers who came through that door.

smiling at him when he walked through that door.

"oh hey, shu! i see you're back," you greet, placing the huge plastic box to rest against your hip. "here for another drink?"

shu smiles, nodding even though that was not his main purpose. "yeah, i needed a break from work."

"i'll be at the bar in a second, go wait up by the cashier!"

he savors all the precious seconds he gets to spend interacting with you, even if it was probably just small talk and discussions about his order.

besides, he'll be able to see more of you through his cameras later.

"will it be the same as yesterday?" you ask once you've put away your cleaning supplies.

shu raises an eyebrow, "you remembered my order?"

"o-oh! i'm sorry, you probably think i'm creepy. i just have a habit to remember people's orders. you left such an impression on me yesterday too," giggling nervously, you look away.

but this adds to your charm, shu thinks. look at you, hiding away because of something cute you did. remembering people's orders was a skill a barista could use, especially if the same customers will be coming back often

you truly were a different human being.

there was no way shu was going to let you out of his sight.

what if you met the wrong people? what if they take advantage of your kindness? shu just couldn't bare the thought of the world making you sad if those things ever happened

how else to prevent that from happening than to protect you himself?

he had sorcery in his veins, that sufficed to kill a hundred men at least.

after you made him his drink, shu goes to leave. but he doesn't go home. instead, he waits by the backstreet until your shift ended.

it was long into the day before he heard the door to the backstreet start to open. shu uses his sorcery to hide himself from view and out you appear, exhausted and ready to collapse from working for so long.

"god, i'm done," you sigh, tugging your bag to your side as you start your journey home.

this was it.

shu follows you back and once you've entered your home, he notes down your exact address and places a single camera. but with his sorcery, it makes it easy for him to place within your residence without much trouble and without being seen.

once he himself arrives home, he excitedly opens up his devices and connects with the camera he planted

this was how his obsession with you grew stronger.

there are no absent days where he's not opening his cameras to check on you. watch over you.

just look at how innocent and beautiful you look... so safe under shu's watch.

yes, this was a good idea after all. this way he knows you're safe.

but

there's something he's begun to notice, a few weeks after the first time he planted in that camera in your home.

from what he's noticed, the first few weeks were just you acting casual and well, being yourself.

but as time passes by, you begin to act... more poised. like you were acting for someone. was it shu or did you start wearing clothes that showed more of your skin?

one thing for sure though

shu could not hold it back anymore.

he couldn't resist just watching you. he needed to talk to you again. he needed to touch you. your skin, your hair, everything!

so, he makes his way over to your home, careful of his steps and any prying eyes. his heart is beating against his chest, extremely excited to even get to see you in person one more time

shu's hand hovers over the doorknob, commanding it to unlock. but after minutes of trying, he wonders why nothing has happened. not a sound of the lock was heard.

"is it...?" he wonders, grabbing the knob. then it swings open with ease. shu is baffled, "it was already open?"

you probably forgot to lock it, so he shrugs and enters your house.

he's watched you for a long time, he basically knows where everything is by now. where your bathroom is, where you keep your books, everything.

he wasn't your protector if he didn't know everything about you, right?

shu tiptoes to the bedroom and he finds you deep asleep in a position he never saw you in.

blankets covered all the way up above your elbows, but shu could definitely see you were... completely nude

"god, you're so beautiful," is the first thing he says, crawling to your side to study your beautiful face. it didn't matter if you were nude. in fact, it benefitted him.

his finger traces over your cheek, slowly down your neck and to your collarbone. all so smooth and like it's begging to him to be touched.

shu then pulls the covers off of you, a gift before him.

that night, he touched you. and by touch, more than tracing his fingers memorizing your every inch.

god, you felt too good. you were just so perfect.

when he finished and the hours slowly becoming dusk once more, shu sneaks out of bed and leaves without forgetting to give you one last kiss.

for that day of course. he was going to come back very soon.

because he knew he was never going to sober up from his drunk thoughts of your beautiful body and your innocence stolen away by him

actually, he wanted to see you today.

so, shu went to pick up a drink by your cafe.

ah, there you were. still as beautiful as the day he met you, seemingly unknowing he had so much fun with you last night.

your eyes meet his, and you flash him a smile like last time you saw him. "hi shu! it's been a while."

"yeah, it has," he laughs simply.

"the same?"

still remembered it huh?

shu nods, placing the amount of money to pay for his drink. he swore when you took the cash, you purposely brushed your fingertips against his.

he can't help but smile.

one day, he'll break in your house holding your hand while he does it with you squeezing him just as tight, crying out his name and wanting nothing else in this world but him.

one day.

"order for shu!" your sweet voice calls out to him. shu runs over to the pick up area and receives it, again your skin featherlight against his own. "enjoy your day, shu."

oh, he will.

he flashes you a smile as he went to take a sip, leaving the cafe to go back home.

when he sits down to get some work done, shu's head begins to ache terribly. was it because he was staring head on at his computer for too long? that and he stayed awake enjoying you?

"i should lie down," shu hisses, the pressure on his head getting worse. the moment he collapses on the bed, his eyelids are already closing

the last thing he saw being his bedroom door opened by a stranger

"shu, baby?"

"my love, come on, wake up."

"don't make me wait too long, shu, baby."

at the continuous pleads for him to exit the sleeping world, shu finally cracks his eyes open.

only to realize he's sitting in a chair, his hand bound behind the backrest and his legs tied to the chair legs.

the culprit?

"y-y/n?"

your eyes widen and a smile stretches itself across your face. your cheeks are bright red as you skitter over to shu.

"good, you're finally awake!"

so you were the one asking him to wake up from before... hold on, what happened again? oh... the drink.

shu couldn't help but laugh, lying back onto the chair as if he wasn't being tied tight against it. "sometimes i wonder if you became a barista only to find the opportunity to drug their drinks."

you giggle, proceeding to sit on his lap. "only for the cute ones."

"actually," he never told you his address though... and he's been watching you for a long time. how did you...? "how did you know where i lived?"

"oh, i thought you would be smarter," a grin paints onto your beautiful face. you trace his jawline, breath becoming one with his. "i had my eye on you the moment you dropped that wallet, my love. having a little peek inside wasn't that hard. also, shu, baby."

you take something from behind him and in the faint light, scissors shine as you show it to him.

you lick your lips, enticing his feral needs for you, "don't think you could get away with what you did last night."

shu's mouth is wide open, but his cheeks are bright pink. this didn't scare him. fuck no.

it made him even more excited.

you drag the blade from under his shirt, teasing his delicate skin with the sharp metal. then you start snipping his top apart, leaving only his bare chest for you to revel in.

"let me have a go, alright?" you giggle, throwing the scissors aside.

shu grinned, laughing himself as he pressed his forehead against yours. "you can have at me as much as you want, baby."

Masterlist!

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wiypt-writes · 4 years ago

Text

Murder, He Wrote

Epilogue

Summary: You and Ransom attend the launch of his book and the cover closes on your story.

Warnings: Bad language, Mature (NSFW, 18+) NON-CON situations, kidnap, violence. Blood. DO NOT READ IF ANY OF THOSE TRIGGER…READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED…YOU HAVE BEENWARNED.

Pairing: DARK! Ransom Drysdale x Reader

A/N: The end! I can’t believe all this span from @jtargaryen18’s Halloween Challenge last year. I hope you have enjoyed his as much as I have.

Word Count: 3.6k

READ THE WARNINGS!!!! This is a DARK series so don’t @me if you can’t follow simple instructions and end up with butt-hurt. And if you’re under 18 get off my blog!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and by writing it does NOT mean I agree with or condone the acts contained within. This fiction is classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar reader and any other OCs that may or may not be mentioned. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Murder, He Wrote Masterlist // Main Masterlist.

Part 7

The town car and it's driver took you to whatever swanky hotel Ransom and his publishers had decided upon, you not caring the slightest inwardly, outwardly only half paying attention. You glanced out the window watching the lights of downtown pass by as your husband of merely three weeks held your hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb.

It was a warm July evening, the two of you dressed to the nines in formal attire. Ransom had insisted the launch be an invite only, formal event. Therefore, he was dressed in a two-piece suit, black of course, with a crisp white button down, silken black tie, and you, you looked like an ice queen's slutty sister. The powder blue silk dress you wore tied together with thin straps on each shoulder, your feet already hurting in your nude six inch sandals. Your free hand tapped a neatly manicured finger over your clutch that matched your shoes. A delicate white gold and diamond tennis bracelet adorned your wrist whilst the necklace you'd been gifted at Christmas hung around your neck. You wore your hair the way he said he loved it, in a ponytail full of waves and wisps framing your face.

After the incident on Valentine’s Day, you’d spent another two weeks in the confines of the basement. All luxuries removed and you were used and abused in exactly the way you had been when Ransom had first taken you, until he’d once more sucked the fight out of you. Only this time you didn’t have the strength to find it again.

You played the part you’d been cast in his sick little fantasy and became totally passive to his whims. You let him fuck you which, in all honesty, wasn’t an entirely unpleasant situation as he knew his way around your body and it felt good. You had given up denying it, and for the moments he was teasing those carnal reactions out of you, you escaped, let yourself imagine you were with someone who you wanted. And by keeping him sweet, you fooled him into thinking you were content. And things settled down, you had that halfway to normal life that you’d achieved before you discovered his manuscript.

But it was bullshit. A means to an end. And you deserved a fucking Oscar.

He’d had the audacity to propose to you, too. In a restaurant. Surrounded by people. He asked you the question, like you had a fucking choice.

Angry, desperate tears had filled your eyes as you’d simply gaped at him, tears the deluded cunt took for you being overwhelmed with happiness. With a smile he slipped the gaudily large diamond on your finger, sealing your fate.

It weighed as heavy on your hand as the grief for your lost life, and the despair at your situation did in your heart.

You’d had a small wedding. Attended simply by your parents and sister. He sent an invite to his mother and father but they didn’t show up. Your dad walked you down the aisle and as you walked towards the man you hated with every breath in your body, your father kissed your cheek and asked you if you were sure you wanted to do this. And no, of course you didn’t, but what could you do?

There was no way out.

“You look as gorgeous tonight as you did on our wedding day.” Ransom’s voice slightly startled you and you turned to face him.

You smiled at him, the smile you knew he wanted to see, as he placed a soft kiss to your cheek before doing the same to your hand, his lips ghosted over the top of the obscene rock and matching band on your finger which caught the lights of the city, sparkling with all the ferocity of a supernova.

Before you needed to reply with some half assed compliment back, the town car stopped as the driver got out and opened Ransom's door.

"Wait here," he instructed and walked around with the driver on the other side, escorting you out the minute your own door opened.

Flashbulbs fired off in your eyes, no doubt the press there for some absolutely ridiculous notion that this book was anything but its true nature of terror and disgust.

Ransom’s hand pressed into the base of your back as he guided you along in front of him, various members of the press calling his name, and you heard the excited shouts from some as they spotted the bands on both yours and Ransom’s hands, positively shrieking as they asked when you’d gotten married.

The headlines flashed in your mind now, 'Grandson of the Great Harlan Thrombey Releases First Suspense Novel'. 'One of Boston's Most Notorious and Eligible Bachelors is Strictly Off The Market' . 'Trust Fund Playboy Sinks His Bunny'.

It made you want to puke.

In fact, as the press line faded and you stepped foot into the lobby, you swallowed back the bile forcing its way up. A tray with champagne flutes passed you by and you immediately snagged one.

When Ransom had been distracted for a brief moment, you quickly glanced around and swallowed back the entire flute of the bubbly drink. Delightfully enjoying the brief taste and quick head rush it gave you.

The further you walked into the event, his hand still against your bare back, the louder it grew and the more trays of champagne and appetizers were floating by.

As typical, the two of you were fashionably late so, you had little chance to take part in any nibble or further, a drink, because the supposed "man of the hour", more like terror of life, was due to give a speech.

His agent pulled the two of you aside and made mention that it was time for Ransom to greet his guests. He pressed a sickening sweet kiss to your lips and confidently took to the small podium atop a small stage nearby.

“First and foremost, thank you to everyone who came out tonight. But more importantly, thank you to my beautiful wife, without you Sweetheart, this wouldn't be possible.”

The smile he flashed you was loaded with meaning as the pair of you looked at one another, his eyes shining with the depraved private understanding you shared.

And you hated him then just about as much as you ever had.

Excited muttering spread around the room as he had knowingly referred to you as his wife. It was the first time he’d announced your marriage to the world but, as he smiled and held his hands up, nodding smugly and confirming whatever people were asking him, you felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of nausea. To everyone else it was a sweet dedication, to you it was a sickening truth. This book was based on what he’d done to you. What he was saying was literal truth.

And the fact that the people currently applauding whatever he had said would never realise the true nature of those words on the pages of his book made you want to vomit in your handbag.

Applause rang around the room and you realised everyone was turned in your direction. Drawing your shoulders back you stood tall and once more fixed that fake smile on your face before Ransom cleared his throat and began to speak again.

But you didn't listen, you drowned him out, the sound of his voice distant and murky like Charlie Brown's teacher. You allowed you mind to think of anything but the present, other than the fact that these people were in unknowing full support of the hell you'd been through the last nine months.

Eventually a loud, rapturous applause signalled the end of his speech and he stepped back, smiling and then turned to the man from his publishers who shook his hand furiously, before the pair of them posed for photos.

That was when he beckoned you to him, looking at you in such a way that made your skin crawl and your teeth seethe with each breath. This bastard expected a photo op from you above all this, commemorating this disaster.

On autopilot you headed towards him, indifference obedience now your specialty and his arm curled possessively round your waist, fingers splaying on your hip. You posed and smiled as the flashes went off, but as you stole a glance at the large, ornate clock on the wall, you suddenly felt your head beginning to swim.

Seeing a convenient way out of this bullshit, you made sure to falter just a little, placing your hand to your chest. It caused Ransom's attention to turn to you.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?"

“I’m feeling a little light headed and warm.” You looked up at him. “Could we maybe get some air?”

"Sure, yeah," he looked to his agent and they nodded towards a side door in the room.

His arm still round you, playing the doting husband, he led you towards it and opened it with a flourish, allowing you to step out in front of him.

You emerged into the alley at the side of the building and took a huge gulp of air, steadying yourself.

"Y/N, what's wrong?"

You were warm, flushed, your skin tingling as the now cooling air hit your slightly damp skin, your nipples perking at the temperature change were visible through the silk dress, and you didn’t miss the heated glance he gave them as you spoke. "I, I don't know. I think it's all the commotion."

“You do look a little flushed.” His eyes moved back to yours and he studied you for a moment, his large hands gently cupping your face as he kissed your forehead before his lips pressed to yours. “Wanna take a walk?”

Despite the fact you really couldn’t walk far in the ridiculous shoes you were in, you nodded. Anything to avoid going back in there and listening to all those sycophants kissing his ass.

He took your hand and started walking slowly down the alley. You were mid-way down when a man jumped out from behind the dumpster. You screamed and instinctively Ransom jumped to the side, pulling you slightly behind him.

“Give me the money and the jewellery, no one gets hurt.” The man spoke gruffly and you felt Ransom draw himself up to his full height as he glared at the dirty, dishevelled man, disdain on his face.

“Eat shit.”

“Ransom, just... please give him what he wants.” Your voice trembled as your body shook, your right hand already removing the rings on your left.

“I’d listen to your pretty wife, if I were you.” The man spoke as he reached into his pocket and when he withdrew his hand you swallowed at the unmistakable flash of metal.

“Fuck, Ransom, he’s got a knife!” You clutched his arm. “Please just give it to him!”

"Fuck, no," he started reaching for his phone but the man lunged toward him.

In the melee that followed, you were thrown to the side, your rings clanging to the floor somewhere along with your clutch, your palms and knees scraping painfully on the floor. By the time you’d pushed yourself up, you saw the man scrambling to his feet, Ransom’s watch and wallet in his hand. He turned to look at you and you backed away, stumbling once more to the ground letting out a blood curdling scream as he advanced. He stopped, picked up your rings and your bag, before he turned, bolting up the alley and rounding the corner, disappearing from sight.

"Y/N," the croaking voice came from your husband as he staggered towards you, a deep red seeping through his white dress shirt, his one hand attempting to stave off the bleeding. The other, cradling his phone. But he didn't get more than a few steps as he collapsed nearby.

"Ransom!" You shrieked and heels be damned, you ran to him, looking around, "help!"

"Call 9-1-1, Baby," he begged, trying to thrust the phone into your hand and you leaned over him.

With a jittery hand you swiped over to the emergency call option and hit the first two digits before you glanced around again and hesitated, rising slowly to your feet.

“What...” Ransom’s chest heaved as he looked up at you, his face white with shock as you turned the phone in your hand and shrugged.

“Yeah, you see, I could call for help but...” with that you tossed his phone to the hard ground and crunched it with your stupidly high heel, rotating your foot to make double sure, the glass and metal grinding between the stiletto and the tarmac. “Whoops, looks like it got smashed in the fight.” You gave a little chuckle. “And of course, mine was in my bag which he took. Isn’t that ironic? I mean the first time you permit me to use it for something other than to contact you or my mom, I can’t.” You made a little tutting noise. “Guess I’ll just have to keep yelling and hope someone hears.”

With that you turned and screamed, a frantic yell. “Please, someone help us! Please, he’s been stabbed, call 9-1-1.” You slowly dropped back to a kneel, ignoring the sting of your grazed knees and smirked. “Dammed, I really am good at this acting shit, don’t you think, handsome?”

Ransom coughed a harsh and wet cough. His chest heaving raggedly as he struggled between catching a breath and bleeding out.

“Y/N...” he spluttered, “you...please...”

"So many criminal junkies in Boston, Sweetheart. Plenty who will take the fall for a little hit,” you emphasised the 't' of the last word as you spoke the very same line that he had delivered to you months ago, the threat he had held over you and used to keep you in check whenever you stepped over that line.

His eyes widened further as the realisation set in, you could see his brain working and it gave you a buzz, a sense of satisfaction to know that he understood this was your doing.

You wanted the last thing this bastard thought about to be how you were responsible for his death. But more so, his narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies be damned, you wanted him to completely understand exactly how it was his fault.

And given the way he was bleeding and struggling for breath, you didn’t have long.

Another scream for help flew from your mouth as you pressed one hand on top of his which were now both clutched to the wound in his stomach, the other brushing his hair back slightly as you smiled down at him.

“I told you when you threw me back in the basement that the way you treat people would come back to haunt you.” You gave a little shrug. “And, when you told the homeless guy looking in the bins on collection day a few months back to eat shit and get a job, well, he took it kinda personally. He didn’t even blink when I asked how much it would take to knock you off.”

"You..." choking on blood, "vicious..." choke,

At that you gave another loud hysteric yell for help before you turned your head back to look at him.

“See, once upon a time I thought you’d changed. But here’s the thing, a person like you doesn’t change, Hugh. You’re incapable of love. You take what you want when you want for no reason other than it pleases you.”

Another scream for help, and this time you could hear someone answering and a lot of yells as people started running towards you.

“Well, now I’ve taken your life like you took mine.” You bent down, your forehead pressing to his as you smirked. His arm reached up to grab you, his blood soaked hand curling over your cheek and side of your neck. "And you know what? It feels good."

His palm was warm and slick against your skin and his eyes blazed with anger as his fingers squeezed. You knew he was desperately trying to hurt you but you felt nothing. You smiled, as you placed a soft kiss to his lips, your words whispered as you pulled back ever so slightly. “Karma’s a bitch, and so am I. See you in hell.”

As the fake tears started to pool in your eyes once more, you allowed your lip to tremble for distraught emphasis. Blood was now trickling out of Ransom's mouth, along down his ear and to the tarmac. You pulled back just a little so as to see his eyes. You wanted to watch him choke on his own blood as he took that final breath. You started sputtering words incoherently as you amped up the hysteria, hearing the footfalls now just behind you.

He didn’t even make it to the hospital.

Hugh Ransom Drysdale was pronounced dead at 21:05 hours on Friday 17th July where he lay in a pool of his own blood, in that dark alleyway down the side of the hotel.

Leaving you a widow.

And free.

***10 months later***

It was as simple as it sounded, closing your eyes and pointing to a spot on a map. Your finger ended up on Boulder.

Colorado was far enough from the last year or so of your life that you could feel comfortable. You'd researched it, finding it to be something worth interest. Affordable. Breath-taking scenery. Incredible life altering activities and quaint little towns. The summers were supposedly warm but rarely did the temperature rise above ninety-five, the winters were supposedly very cold, dry and windy; rarely dropping below six degrees with partly cloudy skies year round.

The months following Ransom’s death had been as draining as humanly possible. The investigation had involved countless interviews before the police and authorities settled for it being a mugging gone wrong. But then there had been the months of wrangling and private law cases his parents had attempted to bring against you to prevent you getting his money, despite the probate law being fairly simple. You were married. He left no will. It was yours by default.

Eventually, when the Drysdales had exhausted every last option, they were forced to concede and that was when you made the decision to leave, a decision of which your parents were highly encouraging. They practically talked you into this whole thing to begin with. Helping you leave your nightmares behind. Despite them not suspecting anything at first, you weren't blind to the fact that things still had not sat right with them. You knew they had suspected a level coercion, that maybe you'd had a manic episode of mental illness, but you never had divulged the full details and by the time he was gone, they hadn't cared. Your relationship with them had strengthened and healed and that was what you cared about.

Now, you were newly nestled in Boulder with a great condo downtown, a stone’s throw from the historic district that was filled with cliché shops and bars. Whilst you didn’t need the money, you’d taken a job working in the media department of a private law firm. It was a far cry from your journalist days, but it suited you just fine.

The more distance you put between who you were now and who you had been, the better.

You were at peace.

The May evening air was temperate as you crossed the street and opened the door to the designated bar in which you were meeting your new group of friends, mostly gathered from work, for a girl's night out. You’d been held up a little in the office so they were already waiting at a table. You waved and gestured to the bar, indicating you were going to get a drink.

As you sidled up to the wooden counter, you were jolted a little into a man to your right. You turned to apologise and gave a little double take. You recognised him instantly. But you didn’t want to make that obvious and cause him to feel uncomfortable. You knew how it felt, to have everyone looking at you, hushed whispered comments as you went about your business, people trying to figure out if you were who they thought you were.

That was part of the reason you had moved, and you sure as hell weren’t about to subject the man next to you to the same, uncomfortable experiences.

Recovering quickly, you hastily apologised and he smiled.

“Don’t worry about it.” His Boston accent was evident and you smiled.

“I miss that accent.”

The man chuckled, his warm blue eyes creasing slightly as he looked at you. “You from Boston, too?”

“Concord.”

“Newton.” He replied, “well, I lived there anyway, but I’m sure you already knew that.”

You wrinkled your nose. “Should I? Know that, I mean?”

He studied you for a moment, and you kept your face as passive as possible. You could tell he knew that you knew, but you gave a shrug none-the-less and he smiled, a gorgeous smile that lit up his entire face, perfect white teeth flashing from beneath an immaculately groomed beard, as he extended his arm towards you.

“Andy Barber.” His fingers gently brushed the back of your knuckles, as you shook his hand, his grip warm and gentle.

“Oh, of course.” You smiled back. “One of our attorneys.”

“Our?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’m Y/N. I work in the media department. I mean I only started a few weeks ago but...”

“Well, in that case, I’m pleased to meet you, Y/N, and welcome aboard.” His smile didn’t falter as he let go of your hand and gestured to the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”

You paused for a moment before you took a deep breath.

And nodded.

“Sure, that’d be great.”

******

Sequel: Follow Andy and reader’s story in Consciousness Of Guilt.

#murder he wrote #dark ransom drysdale #dark ransom drysdale x reader #dark ransom x reader #dark ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale #ransom drysdale x reader #ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale fic #chris evans #chris evans characters

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its-not-a-phase-mom-i-d8-demons · 4 years ago

Text

The Brother’s Reaction to MC having a Nightmare

bAby

this gif... holy SHIT

Lucifer

Whether you started the evening snuggled up under his chin or all alone in your room, he’s an extremely light sleeper since he’s got to keep an ear out for Mammon being stupid at 2 am

So when you start to move restlessly and/or whimper and cry, naturally he’ll awaken and see what the issue is

Lucifer will sit up and gently rest a tentative hand on your trembling shoulder, so as not to startle you

His presence only seemed to make it worse! Your tears got bigger and your cries got louder, your breathing became more uneven until you woke with a start, your own shrill scream scaring you into a frightened, crying ball in front of him

Boi is at a loss…

Was this his fault?

“MC, darling, what has gotten into you? Are you alright?”

“L-Lucifer?” You whimper, watery eyes roving aimlessly in the darkness “L-L-Lucifer?! Where are-”

Wrapping his arms around you and pulling you close, he reassures you: “I’m here, right here princess,” “I’ve got you, it was just a dream MC... nothing to worry about.”

Strokes your head, smoothing your rumpled hair and supporting your back while you hide your puffy, tearstained face in his collar and cling to him for dear life until you calm down

You’re still shaking when the usually stiff demon presses a kiss to the crown of your head and begins to rock from side to side, murmuring gentle, reassuring words in your ear

“Nothing can hurt you as long as you’re in my arms, MC.” “Deep breaths my love, deep breaths…”

Mammon’s vivid scary stories before bed had obviously been a bad decision, Lucifer decided as he dabbed your cheeks with a kleenex

his poor, sweet human having nightmares about silly campfire tales…

How endearing, yet upsetting

He’ll carry you to the kitchen bridal style and hold you close after getting you a glass of water, then carry you back to bed and tuck you safely against his broad chest for the rest of the night making a mental note to hang Mammon upside down from the banister the following morning

Mammon

He woke up from his dream about goldie who had read “∞” on the ATM and opened his door in answer to the frantic knock to find his favorite human crying

You rushed into his arms, burying your face in his chest to hide your shuddering sobs, nearly sending the now blushing Avatar of Greed off balance in your haste

“Jeez, human! Wha… What happened? Why’re ya crying like that?”

No, like seriously, plz stop crying babie or he’s gonna cry too

Returns the hug, holding MC firmly as he regains his footing and manages to shut the door behind you

“MC, sssh, I’m right here! You don’t hafta worry, ok? Luckily you’ve got the best demon on the job to make ya feel better! Hug me as hard as ya need, ok?”

*forehead and cheek smooches*

Lets you curl up in his lap until you can talk to him without stuttering or choking on tears

Holds you the whole time, almost as if he’s afraid to let go for fear you’ll cry again

“Bad dream? What was it about?”

“Th-Those characters from Levi’s horror game w-were eating you alive and I c-couldn’t move!” You whimper tearfully, “You were begging me for help a-and I couldn’t do anything to save you from them because every time I moved th-these ropes got t-tighter around my neck a-an-”

First of all, he’s horrified that Levi showed you those games when he knew they gave you nightmares. Unfortunately, you had to if you didn’t want to be called a normie for the billionth time that week

Second, he, the great Mammon, begging a mere human for help? Yeah right

Even though he knew in his heart of hearts that that would definitely be the case

“They’re not real, remember that. And if you still think those freaks are lurking in the dark, come find me and the great Mammon will protect you!”

You can't help but giggle and hug him more tightly, knocking him back onto his pillow

Neither of you felt like moving, so Mammon pulls the sheets up over your shoulders and you snuggle together until the morning comes

At the breakfast table, Mammon doesn’t hesitate to screech at Levi for giving you nightmares while cradling your tired, sleep-deprived body against him

Leviathan

Doesn’t hear MC’s knock at first, he’s too absorbed in the 14th episode of I Was Eating Avocado Salmon Sushi at a Hundred-Yen Revolving Sushi Restaurant When Suddenly I Was Thrown Back in Time a Thousand Years to the Heian Era, Where I Was Selected to Be a Personal Chef for a Princess and Was Later Chosen as a Possible Candidate to Be Her Husband… Now someone Please Tell Me How That’s Even Possible

As the knocking gets louder and more frantic, the otaku finally notices and pauses the anime, goes to the door and opens it a tiny bit

Just enough to see the teary-eyed MC, hugging their waist in discomfort, shivering in fear, and looking left and right down the hall for danger

“... Yeah?”

“L-Levi? C-Can I come in? *sniff* I just had a really scary dream-”

“I-uh… Ummm I g-guess,”

He lets you in and on a whim, places a tentative hand on your back

He expected you to push him away, but when you choked and rushed into his half-open arms and buried your face in his chest, leviachan.exe has stopped working

EXIT

What was he supposed to do with his hands?!?!??

MC was crying and he was just standing there like a normie? Wh… WhAt wOULd HenRy dO?

“MC, h-hey, it cant’ve been that bad… here, um let’s s-sit down a-and you can talk to me. Sound good?”

He feels you nod and leads you to his large gaming beanbag chair and you get squooshed against his side, shivering and sniveling, but warm and safe

Levi dries your face with the edge of his shirt and after a few moments of comfortable silence, you begin to explain your dream

The slimy creatures scaling the walls of the House of Lamentation with their slimy entrails dripping whitish goo in their wake. Eight spindly legs to each monster, sixteen sinister red eyes, and countless rows of gleaming fangs ready to take a chunk out of anyone who came too close

They managed to get into the house and they chased you and the brothers, but the otaku had tripped over a fallen suit of armor and a spider creature made its move before he could get away

At that point, you’d woken up absolutely terrified and rushed to see if Levi was ok

“But you’ve played horror games with me and we watched My Sister and I Found a Spider and Took It Home, Realizing Soon After it Was a Demon Who Eventually Escaped From the Glass Jar We Used for a House and Ate Our Toes, Transporting Us To Hell Where We Were F-”

“Yeah… I know… B-But it wasn’t that bad. I was reading one of the books Satan recommended. It was a really well-written horror story and it had very realistic pictures. I just can’t seem to get those gross monsters out of my head:(”

Your voice slowly trailed off and Levi realized what he had accomplished

You… You weren’t crying anymore!!

Also, you weren’t breathing really hard or shaking too much! Had… had this yucky otaku really calmed the human down?

*gasp* he was rubbing your back too!? And you hadn’t slapped his icky hands away?

You… you were ok with this? B-Being all snuggled up together on the beanbag chair?

“L-Levi, I-I’m ok now. I’ll leave you alone… I hope I didn’t wake you up…”

“N-No!”

“Something wrong?”

“No… I-um,” (he couldn’t let you get away now! This was perfect! He had you all to himself!! No WAY was he gonna screw this up!!) “You c-can stay a little longer if you’d like… I-I was in the middle of I Was Eating Avocado Salmon Sushi at a Hundred-Yen Revolving Sushi Restaurant When Suddenly I Was Thrown Back in Time a Thousand Years to the Heian Era, Where I Was Selected to Be a Personal Chef for a Princess and Was Later Chosen as a Possible Candidate to Be Her Husband… Now someone Please Tell Me How That’s Even Possible… Do you maybe want to stay and watch?”

“You don’t mind? I don’t want to intrude-”

“No! It’s fine!”

And so he fumbled with the remote and hit the play button, but couldn’t focus on a single word the protagonists were saying

You. Fell. Asleep.

On. Him.

“Maybe… Maybe MC doesn’t think I’m a… ‘yucky otaku’ after all… But don’t get your hopes up, Levi.”

Satan

He fell asleep in his chair, book resting on his chest when he heard a short, quick (almost frantic) string of taps on his door

Being a light sleeper (just like his papa), he immediately woke up to hear your voice on the other side of the door

“Satan? Are… Are you awake? *sniffle*”

It was you

What could you possibly want at this hour?

Upon opening the door, your body crashed into his own, but not before impulsively throwing your arms around his neck and breaking down on his shoulder

“M-MC? Are you alright?”

No, you weren’t

Judging by your stormy sobs and trembling figure, something must have shaken you up horribly for you to act like this

The sweet MC he knew usually kept their cool

He leads you to his big armchair and sits you down, careful to keep a firm hand on your back for support, both emotional and physical

Your eyes were wide and glassy, pupils darting to each corner of the room looking for monsters, bad demons, giant bugs, etc.

Finding none, you finally make shy eye contact with the blonde demon who has kept his arms close about you and dabbed your endless tears away until you were calm enough to speak

“MC, did you have a night terror or something?”

“*sniffle* M-hm. I-I’m sorry S-Satan, I was just so scared I c-couldn’t stay in my room all alone and you were the first person I thought of. So… I ran here. Did I wake you?”

“I fell asleep in my chair again MC. So I would have awakened during the night anyway,” He replied, “Plus, I don’t mind at all. I’m… I’m happy you came. What was your dream about?”

“It was really twisted… are you sure you want to know?”

“You’ll feel better when you talk about it and I’m always up for a story.” He smiled.

He sat back in his chair tentatively resting your head on his chest as you began describing the terrors from only minutes before

“Asmodeus and I, we watched some of those cringey teen romance movies this afternoon and somehow they morphed into a really scary dream. You and I, the rest of your brothers, the angels, Solomon, Diavolo, and even Barbatos were playing spin the bottle for some reason and I landed on you, but when I kissed you, you turned to dust! Th-Then when I landed on Mammon and Beel, the s-same thing happened again, but no one seemed to notice! Th-”

Noticing you were getting worked up again, Satan rubbed soothing circles into your back, hushing you gently and assuring you that everything was fine and ‘innocent’ kissing games weren’t actually deadly

Unless they were

But he didn’t mention that to you at that moment

Instead, he cradled you in his lap and read to you until your eyelids began to droop once more for some much-needed sleep

Being the good boy he is, he tucked you into his bed

BUT

Before he could walk back to his chair

“Satan, aren’t… aren’t you gonna lay with me?” You ask, tired, sweet voice ringing in his ears, “I-If you don’t mind that is. I mean it is your bed, after all, I didn’t mean t-”

He’s blushing up to his ears at your request, but nonetheless rolls onto the mattress next to you and you snuggle up close and fall asleep almost instantly

“As long as you’re here with me, you’ll be safe MC.”

Asmodeus

Why… Why was he up so early? What was that noise? Wait… Where were you?

He could’ve sworn he fell asleep with you in his arms

Sitting up groggily he looked around after rubbing the crust of sleep from his eyes

Something was moving and whimpering next to him, caught in a snare of fluffy blankets

The fearful cries of “Asmodeus! Oh, Asmo please don’t die! No, no, no, NO!!” broke the sweet demon’s heart

Your ragged breathing turned to a blood-curdling scream and you shot upright, but the blankets blocking your vision increased your tearful unease tenfold and you began struggling even harder against them

Taking action, Asmo tugged at the sheets, doing everything he could to help you

When your face emerged from the heap, you took a great gasp of air and immediately began sobbing your heart out

Asmo paused, knowing it unwise to approach someone who’d just escaped the clutches of a nightmare, but he couldn’t just sit there and stare at you!

Luckily, you chose that moment to look around

Your eyes met his amber ones in the semi-darkness and you tackled him, wrapping him in an impossibly tight hug

“A-ASMO!”

“Darling, wh-”

“Oh my god! I thought I killed you! I r-ruined your pretty face! You just sh-shriveled up a-and-”

“Sweetheart, hey~” He murmured, closing his arms around your back and cradling the back of your head in his hand, “Don’t cry anymore, Asmo’s here…”

His gentle comforting coos as he rocked from side to side brought your tears to a halt and soon you were able to look him in the face

Your glassy, frightened eyes had almost a look of reverence when you ever so slightly cupped your palm over his cheek, afraid he would crumble away at your caress once more

When he didn’t, you let out a shaky sigh of relief and visibly relaxed; shoving your face in his shoulder and wrapping your legs and arms around him so he couldn’t escape

It was quiet for a moment

Asmodeus settled his forearms around your waist and said

“Dearest, are you alright?”

“I… I don’t know.” You fisted his shirt in your palms and looked at him, “That was a really vivid one.”

“Tell me what it was about!” He smiled sympathetically and stroked your cheek, “I have bad dreams sometimes too, MC. If you tell me yours I’ll tell you a few of mii-iiine!”

You couldn’t help but crack a small grin as his sweet tone and nod

“Yesterday Beel told me about the one time he touched Satan’s favorite plant. He’d seen Satan pet the stalk and petals before and he wanted to do it too. (Satan is a plant dad, fight me) But when he touched it, it shriveled up and died on the spot. I… I had a dream where I touched you and you shriveled up! I tried to help you, but every time I touched you, you screamed in pain! Then… Then you died in my arms and I woke up.”

You clung to the demon as he moved, lost in thought. Settling back into the abundant pillows and tugging a sheet over your shoulders, he began to speak

“That sounds absolutely terrifying! What would you do without me?”

“Asmo…”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” He nuzzled your cheek and hugged you tighter, “Why don’t we find a way to help you forget about it? I have a couple of suggestions… if you’d like to hear them~”

Beelzebub

He’d only been gone for a minute… or four… maybe five…? Right?

Why were you writhing around like that? You sounded like a lost little puppy and… were those tears?

“MC? Are you awake?”

No reply, just your continued whines of discontent and a steady stream of tears soaking the pillow

He dropped his snacks on the floor and carefully knelt on the edge of the mattress, putting a gentle hand on your forehead

Lucifer used to do that when he was sick, long ago when they still lived in the celestial realm. Maybe it would help you? Somehow? Hopefully?

The strangled sob that fell from your lips as you forced his hand away broke his big heart in two

Hold on, your eyes were closed! Wait, you were having a bad dream!

Throwing all caution to the wind (and not knowing the consequences of waking someone in this state) and began shaking you rather roughly, scaring you awake and making you bonk heads when you sat up too quickly

Now you were crying for more reasons than one

Your head hurt, two big scary hands had your shoulders in a tight grip, there was a large figure looming over you in the dark, your dream was still raging and replaying in your head, and it was really dark and uncomfortably warm

Even in the dim light, Beel witnessed the look of pure terror that crossed your face

You thought his heart was broken? Well it just fucking shattered

You were scared? Of him?

“MC, it’s just me! Don’t be afraid!”

He’d woken you up, but apparently he’d only made things worse…

Beel is vewy sowwy :(

Those lovely amethyst eyes…

“B… Beeley?”

“MC? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, I didn-”

You silence the ginger demon by throwing yourself into his arms in unparalleled relief, afraid you hadn’t really woken up and the shadow of your favorite brother was just MC’s Nightmare, Continued

Happy you’re in his arms, he squeezes back with all his might and burying his face in your shoulder

“I just had the worst nightmare Beel. I’m so happy you’re here…” You murmur, wiping your nose on your sleeve.

“Is your head ok?”

“M-hm.”

The pair of you sit in comfortable silence for a few moments, Beel offers you a tissue to dry your face, but you can’t seem to stop crying

“MC, maybe if you told me about it, you’d feel better!”

His sweet, honest smile made you melt

But the contents of your dream… You looked guiltily toward the bed on the other side of the room where you knew the Avatar of Sloth was sleeping peacefully

“You… You promise not to tell Belphie?”

“What do you mean?”

“W-Well I dreamt about that time… you know… when he killed me? He gave me a hug before bed like he always does a-and I love Belphie’s hugs but I can’t help but think about... that. I feel bad, it’s the same as holding a grudge! I’m sorry Beel.”

*insert pikachu face meme* = beel

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault you had the dream.”

“I know… I feel bad though. Did I wake you up?” You ask, changing the subject.

“Nuh-uh. I was already up grabbing snacks.” He pointed to the untidy pile a few feet away. “Maybe some TSL and food will bring your smile back. Don’t worry about your dream MC, the secret is safe with me. Plus, you’re only human and I guess being killed would be really scary for you. I didn’t protect you that time, but if anyone ever tries to hurt you again, I’ll be there before you can say Burgers from Akuzon, ok?”

The smile lifts your lips before he finishes his sentence warms his heart and puts a happy smile on his own as you give him a final squeeze and whisper

“Thanks a lot, Beeley.”

Belphegor

It is said the Avatar of Sloth could sleep through anything, even the loudest storm and the echoes of 4th of July from the human world

But when the precious human cuddled up in his arms every night begins to move around and/or whimper in fear, Belphegor is awake in minutes only to find you squirming away from him and begging to some invisible entity “Just… Just d-don’t hurt them! I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry, please don’t hurt me I-”

The seventh born is squeezing your hand and whispering encouragement in your ear, telling you you’re safe and that it’s just a dream

Slowly opening your eyes you look around, still terrified and jumpy from your vision, but the warm hand intertwined with yours and the comforting arm around your back, plus the familiar scents of the twins’ room slowly bring you back to reality

“MC?”

“Belphie? I-Is that you?”

“Who else would it be, dummy.”

You ignore the half hearted insult and bury your face in his chest, allowing your heart to reach a normal pace and his natural scent and warmth to wash over you

“Tell me about it. Sounded pretty scary.”

“I’m sorry for waking you up Belphie, I know how you hate losing sleep…”

“Just… Be quiet and tell me your dream!”

“S-Sorry… Um, so I didn’t know you too well yet and an angel came and took the precious grimoire, but me and Beel were caught up in it and there was this whole thing with Purgatory Hall and Luke and-”

“Your stories can put me right to bed you know that? Anyway, so what happened? Did Lucifer tear the angel’s head off?” He looked rather hopeful…

“Of course not! Lucifer was gonna make me choose who I wanted to save, either Beel or Luke and I didn’t want either of them to get hurt so I said ‘both’ and Lucifer got really mad and scary and in my dream he ended up hurting Luke and Beel and he would’ve gotten me if you hadn’t woken me up.”

“You’re welcome.”

“... *sigh* Thanks for listening Belphie.”

With a sigh of his own, he pulled you into his arms, resting his chin on your shoulder

“It was just a dream. You don’t have to be afraid, you know. I’m right here for you. Always.”

“Aww, than-”

“Forget I said that! Shut up and go to sleep!”

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justhockeythings-blog1 · 4 years ago

Text

You look really good in my jersey

A/N: Let me know what you guys think of this one! I have a specific part that is my fave, bonus points to anyone who can guess it!

Request: Prompt : “You look really good in my Jersey ” with Morgan Rielly

You and Morgan had been friends for years, inseparable from the second you moved into the house next door to him. Many people over the years had assumed that you two were dating, starting as young as middle school. You had always shaken your head and laughed it off, ignoring the way that Morgan looked at you momentarily before agreeing with you.

Now, after nearly twenty years of friendship, you still had those rumors. Whether it was from your friends, his friends, your parents. It seemed like the two of you couldn’t do anything together without someone making a comment that you two should be dating or assuming that you already were.

To be honest, you had realized that the feelings you had for Morgan extended beyond that of friendship when you were back in high school. You should’ve seen it coming, you had noticed the shift in your feelings, the way your stomach would flutter when he smiled at you. Your cheeks heated up more often when he said something kind. You two went to a dance together your senior year and you were convinced that you would pass out from fighting off those feelings.

You couldn’t have those feelings. This was Morgan, your best friend, practically your brother. Those were the same words you had repeated to so many people over the years and now you were struggling to convince yourself.

Then college came, you went to your university and Morgan went off to make his star career come true. It had been easy to avoid those feelings when you weren’t seeing him every day, at least not in person. You two still kept up regular contact, between facetime, phone calls, and texts, it was almost like you weren’t hundreds of miles apart.

When he was drafted, you were watching. When you graduated, he was there. He had been your date to your best friend’s wedding, you had been his to many events for the Leafs. It only made sense, after your years of friendship, that you found a job in Toronto and be by your best friend again.

“So when are you finally going to come to one of my games?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow at you as you lounged in your bed, his face smiling at you from the phone in your hand. He was on a roadtrip in Montreal and still found time to call you, making those butterflies erupt in your stomach again.

“What makes you think I want to come to your game?” You teased, to be honest this was the first time in a long time you hadn’t been able to go to a game. Throughout your friendship you had made it a point to go to every single game you could, especially in high school when your emotions were high.

Now though, it seemed like your job and his hockey schedule never lined up to where you could go to a game in person. You were slammed recently, up to your ears in meetings, reports, and a big presentation coming up. You wanted to be at the games, you wanted to be at them all but you just hadn’t found the time.

“Ouch, I take back my invitation.” He laughed, placing his hand over his heart as if pained by your statement.

You smiled a little, biting your lip as you eyed the box at the end of your bed. You had finally bit the bullet and purchased his jersey, your heart jumping when you had laid out the bright blue jersey on your bed and saw ‘Rielly’ sprawled out across the back of it. Now you just had to find a game to wear it to.

“Once I’m caught up on work, I’ll try and make a game, I’m sorry Morgs.” You offered, using your childhood nickname for him. One you knew would soften him up no matter what.

“That’s not fair.” He commented with a smile, in reference to your nickname usage. The nickname only you could use and the one that made his stomach flip every time you said it.

“Of course it is. You love me for it.” You teased and Morgan had to pause at that. It was one of the many reasons that he loved you but before he could say anything another yawn left your lips. “I’m sorry Morgs, I gotta get to bed, I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”

As you both hung up, miles apart from one another, you both fell asleep thinking about the other.

A week after your phone call you had finally gotten caught up on your work, your presentation had been approved by your boss, and you had taken a long weekend just for the occasion. Which meant it was finally time to go see your boy play live, in person.

You had arranged to sit with some of the other girls, wanting to see them as much as you wanted to see Morgan play. It felt like your whole social life had taken a toll because of your job. You caught sight of your reflection as you made your way to your seat, smiling to yourself. You hoped Morgan would like your surprise, you hadn’t told him that you were coming tonight or that you had bought his jersey.

“He’s going to love it you know.” You turned your head, pulling your eyes away from the ice for the first time since the game started to look at Zach’s wife.

“What?” You asked, playing dumb though you knew exactly what she was refrring to. The girls had been a part of promoting a relationship between you and Morgan before, this was only going to perpetuate it.

“I know you might not see it, but you two are madly in love with one another.”

You felt the heat rise to your cheeks, turning your eyes back to the ice as the third period began. Thankfully, she let the conversation end there, turning it back to hockey quickly but the seed had been planted. You had always assumed that Morgan only saw you as friends, as a sister even.

You accepted the fact that you were forever going to be in the friendzone, but one comment that you had heard a thousand times, sent your mind reeling tonight. You felt yourself losing concentration on the game as your mind went deeper into the idea that Morgan could be in love with you. You began to analyze every little thing that could have pointed to that outcome. The way he put his hand on your lower back at an event, how he would shift closer to your side when out at a bar full of creepy men, or how any time you fell asleep at his place he would cover you up and let you stay as long as you wanted. You had always assumed that was just him being a good friend, now though you wondered if it could have meant more. You were pulled from your thoughts by the final buzzer. A Leafs win would hopefully distract you from your thoughts about the boy you were about to see.

You joined the girls outside of the locker room, knowing that the guys would have media but there had been talk of a group going out for a late dinner after the game. If you knew Morgan, you would probably end up along with the group and you were okay with that.

You smiled as you saw him coming out, watching as he faltered in his steps when he realized what you had on. It made your stomach flip, it wasn’t like you had never worn a jersey or something of his before, but this time felt very different.

“Hey.” You broke the ice, moving to meet him where he stood and hugging him. “You did great tonight, nice goal.”

You felt his arms wrap back around you, hugging you tightly as though the two of you hadn’t seen each other earlier in the week for lunch. He pulled away, smiling down as he took in your appearance once more.

“You look really good in my jersey.” He commented, his eyes raking over the jersey one more time, which inevitably brought a blush to your cheeks.

“Glad you think so, it’s a little expensive for me not to.” You chuckled, shrugging your shoulders under the weight of his hands as they held you.

“You know what would make you look even better in it?” He asked, seeming to have a newfound air of confidence around him. You assumed it was from the win, little did you know that it was actually from the fact that seeing you in his jersey had finally given him the push to make a move.

“If we were sitting at a restaurant eating? I don’t know about you but I am starving and the other guys already left.” You laughed and Morgan chuckled a little, shaking his head, he had to do this now before he lost his nerve.

“If you were my girlfriend wearing my jersey.” He commented, leaving you stunned as you stared up at him.

Your silence was making him nervous, maybe he had misinterpreted the signs. He was mentally cursing his teammates for giving him the push to ask you out finally, but seeing you in his jersey made him realize that he didn’t want to risk seeing you in anyone else’s.

“You know what, just forget I said anything. Let’s go get food.” He rescinded, letting his hands fall from your shoulders, his cheeks a bright red. His stomach dropping at the idea that he may have just ruined his longest friendship on a whim.

“No, wait!” You grabbed his hand, stopping him from moving. “Ask me again.”

He furrowed his eyebrows confused by your demand, “What do you mean?”

“Ask me again.” You insisted. “I don’t want to have to tell people that I stood there like a fish out of water when you asked me to be your girlfriend.”

He laughed at that, a genuine laugh, one that was filled with relief and joy at what your statement insinuated.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He asked again, staring into your eyes to make sure you were serious about this.

“Yes.” You smiled widely, nodding. “Now can we get food?”

#morgan rielly imagine #morgan rielly #nhl imagines #Nhl writing #nhl imagine #Toronto Maple Leafs #toronto maple leafs imagine

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remmushound · 4 years ago

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Bay/rise 16! @errorfreak88 @brightlotusmoon

Cassandra was anxious. She had everything— her master had comeback at her side and was freed from the control of that monstrous spider demon. What was left of the Foot Clan was strong! She had the entire, empty city at her whim! But what good was the city if there were no people in it? Nobody to rule or protect or attack or make her life interesting. The turtles and their friends had disappeared into that rift and brought the city’s orb with them. Taken her masters Lou and Brute away from her, and took the rest of her foot clan away away too. Left her alone nothing but a few rouge mutants running amok, and the ruby ring on her finger that gave her control over The Shredder, What a waste…

She twisted the ruby ring on her finger. Like a puppet, Shredder twisted Big Mama harder into the ground under the immense weight of his armor. The Jorogumo screamed her anguish as the sounds of her body popping filled the air.

“I already told you, I don’t know where they went!” Big Mama wailed to the unmerciful duo.

“Why don’t I believe you?” Cass asked, climbing down from her throne made of mystic vines and leaning close to Big Mama’s face. “Where are my masters?”

“I don’t know!”

Another twist of the ring. Shredder grabbed one of Big Mama’s legs and started to twist it slowly backward.

“AH— I can’t tell you where they are! But I know who can and I’ll tell you where to find him if you just STOP!”

Shredder stopped twisting seconds before the limb would have come off. He let the leg fall back down, and it curled under the safety of Big Mama’s rotund belly.

“Then tell me.” It physically pained Cass to be so cruel. As violent and excitable as she was, the thought and action of this type of torturous interrogation wasn’t something she liked. She just wanted her family back. Her masters that had taught her well. Her fellow foot soldiers she had grown to respect. Her father— Her little sister…

Big Mama took a moment to catch a shaky breath. “W… when Yoshi tried to pull me through the portal I saw a little… glimsy-poo of where they were headed.”

“Go on.”

“The… rift stream did seem to… diverge a great bit, don't you know? I counted three separate eh… destinations.” She held up three claws, “And... on one of those little slipstreams I happened to catch sight of an Oni on the other side. Now, how to get to this Oni I… couldn’t tell you—“

Shredder started to crush her abdomen again and Big Mama’s words became frantic.

“But I know who can! Hueso Pirata— a calaca in the hidden city! He is skilled in all things mystic, and he can tell you where that rift went! And if he cannot, then Baron Draxum may be able to.”

Cassandra considered. “How do I get into the hidden city?”

“Why, you can use my charm of course! The spider emblem around my neck! In fact, there is a doorway to the Hidden City just outside this damned stadium— in the statue! I can take you to it!”

“No need.” Cass ripped the tag from Big Mama’s neck and turned it around in her hand. “I can do it myself.”

~~~

“Open!” Cass held the emblem out to the statue but nothing happened. She growled and went at it from several different angles. “Open! ¡Abierta! ¡Abierto! Aita! Ouvrir! I’m running out of languages! Abrir!”

She growled her frustration as the statue stayed a statue. She backed off and pulled out her Naginata.

“Wise guy, eh? GOONGALA GOONGALA!”

She charged the statue and hit it repeatedly, circling around it to strike it at every possible angle. All that served to do was tire her out and make her back up once more with a frustrated roar.

“WHY YOU LITTLE—“ She growled and started to spit off insults at the inanimate object and its dumb, inanimate face. “...pathetic excuse for a statue now OPEN SAYS-A-ME!”

The rift opened. Cass immediately settled and gave an excited squeak. “Oh. Yay!”

~~~

Hueso ran out of the kitchen at the first sign of a struggle. It took only a few seconds for him to locate the disturbance beside the bar and force his way between a startled and confused chupacabra and furious Kudan.

“Oye Oye, calmate! What is the issue?”

“I do not know!” The chupacabra answered in Spanish, cowering behind the calaca. “I sit here, I drink, and he got mad!”

Hueso glanced quickly between the two yokai, and then to the dish before the chupacabra before he quickly put a story together.

Hueso turned to the kudan. “Ah— sir, you are upset of the Sangre De Cabra, yes?”

The goat snorted, muttering a few choice words in Japanese before switching to english. “Of course I am! He shouldn’t be allowed to drink that in public!”

“It is his nature, he does not understand why you yell at him.” Hueso turned back to the chupacabra and offered him some quick reassurance in spanish before gently guiding the kudan toward the back of the restaurant. “I will give you a private booth and take half off your order for the inconvenience, please no bad reviews.”

By the time Hueso finally got the furious yokai settled down, there came another disturbance in the dining area. This one went far beyond the normal customer disagreement. There were screams, and the sounds of tables being flipped and ceramic breaking. Heavy foot traffic as Yokai raced for escape.

Hueso didn't hesitate. He didn't freeze up or panic or try to run. In this area of the Hidden City, break ins were common, and with his background they weren’t much of a big deal. He could deal with the Mud Dogs like a mother scolding her misbehaving children, and he could send heinous green running for the hills with little difficulty. This was his shop, his livelihood, and nothing could take that.

“Por el amor de Dios, you chose a bad day to mess with me.” He growled and reached to unlatch the macuahuitl from his belt.

He backed up flat against the wall as his eye searched around the corner for the attacker, and found what appeared to be a human girl brandishing a bent naginata and an attitude that was bigger than she was.

“HUESO PIRATA! I DEMAND RETRIBUTION!” She slammed her weapon into a series of decorations.

“No! My calaca art! So it’s a personal vendetta is it…?”

“SHOW YOURSELF!”

“You should tame your aggression, little girl.” Hueso finally stepped out into the open, holding his macuahuitl at his side. “It may get you in a world of trouble.”

“ARE YOU HUESO PIRATA?!” She pointed her weapon at him.

“Yes, I am, but please spare the decor! It wasn’t cheap.”

Her face remained furiously distorted a minute longer before she switched to an almost calm state as if flipping a switch.

“I understand. My father owns a store. Very proud of it. No more smashing.” She pointed the blade at Hueso again. “Unless it’s you!”

She screamed as she jumped from the table and charged Hueso. Hueso didn't move until the last minute, when he stepped out of the way and brought his club to strike the base of her skull. As she stumbled, she somehow managed to turn the assault into a counter attack, spinning and bringing her blade to swipe at Hueso. Hueso stepped back, though not fast enough, and the blade sliced through his shirt and what appeared thin air where his stomach should have been.

Hueso gave a shout and held up his club against the kunoichi’s blade to keep her from wounding him anymore. From the previous wound inflicted started to flow a type of blue substance, like blood but the wrong color.

“Little girl—“

“The names Cassandra!” The human growled, finally getting strength enough over Hueso enough to shove him off of her and send him crashing into the wall.

“Cassandra.” Hueso corrected, taking a moment to collect himself while Cassandra circled for an opening. “Could I perhaps ask what fault you take with me to attack me on work hours? And could you not settle for a free appetizer and coupon?”

When the attackers only response was a furious growl, he charged a wide circle around Cass trying to get behind her while she spun on her heels to keep him from achieving such a feat.

“Grrrr hold still!” Cassandra shouted. “Stand still so I can hit you!”

Hueso charged her quite suddenly and landed a quick swipe at her arm, which promptly disarmed her of her weapon. She looked down at the weapon, up at Hueso, then back down and up again. The she gave a primal scream and charged Hueso full force, catching him off guard as she lifted him by his waist and slammed him hard onto the face of a table without giving so much as a flinch as he wailed his weapon against her back. The table gave way under their combined weights and Cass ended up landing on top of Hueso with her knee pressed firmly to his neckbone.

“Your times up, Hueso Pirata, and you’re coming with me…”

#Hueso has no chill #CASSANDRA HAS ARRIVED #Hueso is too old for this s***#I love cass sm

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starsfic · 4 years ago

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The Ghosts of Fiery Cloud Manor, Chapter 3: Nightmares, Sisters, and Friends

Summary: Xiaotian has a nightmare and is reunited.

AO3

Notes: Yep, two chapters!

-_-

Xiaotian woke up with a crick in his neck. “Ow, ow, ow…” he grumbled, rubbing it as he sat up. See, this is why you should always sleep somewhere with a pillow. When the ache was soothed, he looked around.

The monkey was nowhere to be seen and the windows were dark.

“Oh boy.” he said, scrambling up and reaching down for his pack. How had he lost so much time?! Now, he would have to hike back down in the dark- His fingers clenched around nothing. He looked down in confusion.

His backpack wasn’t there.

Xiaotian looked around, but a minute of blindly searching yielded nothing. “Okay, don’t panic. You can find it tomorrow when there’s light.” He got up and headed out of the library, flicking his flashlight on. In the shroud of night, the manor was much darker and had a rather unfriendly feel to it, his little flashlight barely penetrating the darkness. Finally, he reached the front doors.

The rocks were gone.

Xiaotian barely had a moment to realize that before the door was slamming shut. He couldn’t help but run to them, desperately pulling on the knobs. When they refused to open, he desperately pounded on the doors. “Let me out!” he screamed, not sure who he was pleading to. “Please let me out!”

He only stopped when he felt warmth on his hands. When Xiaotian pulled his fists away from the door, his hands were bloody. He watched as a drop of blood dripped down and onto the floor, tracing the gold veins.

That was when the veins lifted off the floor. Before he could react, they snapped out at him, wrapping him tight. Xiaotian let out a cry as his chest gave an alarming creak from the pressure the gold bindings placed on him. A chuckle drew his attention and he found his gaze moved from the bindings to the head of the grand staircase. A figure stood there, watching his struggle, their features shrouded in shadow. They took a step down, the human proportions of their form shifting and twisting until a fire hit the floor. The manor burned as the fire approached him, a hand rising from the flames to cup his face. Then it spoke with a crackling, popping voice.

“Welcome home.”

Then the flames were consuming him as the manor fell apart around him-

Xiaotian’s eyes opened with a gasp.

He blinked until the face of the monkey, sitting on him, came into view. It let out a worried chirp. He let out a sigh, petting the monkey. “It was just a dream,” he sighed in relief, craning his head back to look out the window.

The sun was setting, nonetheless.

“Come on.” he said, scooping up the monkey with one hand to grab his backpack with the other. As he headed out of the library, Xiaotian found himself puzzling over his dream.

It was a possible sign that his anxiety was working on how attached he was to the manor. Combined with the ghost stories Tang said were attached to the house and the whole flame motif he had been finding, it created one hell of a nightmare. In a burst of curiosity, Xiaotian pulled out his phone to use the (surprisingly good) signal to see what fire represented in dreams. Instead, his eye caught a long line of texts.

They were all from his older sister.

We need to talk about what happened between you and Father.

Xiaotian, we need to talk.

Xiaotian, answer me.

There was a missed call from Bao, during his nap, and he was very much glad he had been asleep. His heart sank when he saw the next and last message. You’re being a baby about this whole thing. Call me so we can figure out how to deal with this as a family.

“Sisters.” he grumbled instead of a much ruder word, dismissing all the texts and stuffing his phone in his pocket. The monkey let out another concerned chirp. “I’m fine bud-” Xiaotian came to a stop when he saw the front doors were closed. In a burst of fear, he practically sprinted to the doors. They opened under his shove.

“Oh, thank gods.” he sighed, scrambling out to firmly lock the doors behind him. Xiaotian only looked back once when he was locking the gate. With the memory of his dream, the entire place had shifted in his mind’s eye.

The manor no longer looked beautiful.

It looked hungry.

-_-

Xiaotian found himself tossing and turning most of the night, musing over his dream. He had done that search when he had returned to the inn. Fire was most often used to symbolize passion, but it was also deep-rooted anger. Being tied up meant that you were feeling internally restrained.

Yeah, maybe he was feeling that restraint and that deep-rooted anger.

Before the attack, he had found himself snapping and had been taking steps to move out. Pigsy was more than happy to give him his spare room in his apartment. Before that, he had been forced to move to his parents and sister’s whims.

He sighed at that thought and tried to get some sleep. It didn’t work and he found himself stumbling down the stairs in the morning. The monkey hopped up on him when he hit the main floor and he didn’t even bother trying to remove it. “MK!”

That voice woke him up.

Inside the restaurant, Xiaojiao waved at him from a table. Xiaotian gaped. “What...are you doing here?” he said when she ran up and hugged him. This must be why she had been using her planning voice.

“You wished I was here!” Xiaojiao said, leaning back with a shrug. “I figured you might want some kind of friendly face and my parents agreed! So I talked to Pigsy who talked to Tang and…here we are!” Before he could ask about the ‘we’, a warm chuckle broke in.

“Give him some space, pretty girl.”

Spindrax, Xiaojiao’s other bestie and her racing rival, had walked up with a tray of breakfast food. “Three pairs of hands are better than one, right?” she said to Xiaotian with a smile as she set down the tray. Her smile turned gentle as she reached out, giving him a hair ruffle. “How are you?”

“Much better now that you guys are here.” Xiaotian said with a smile.

Together over breakfast, Xiaojiao and Spindrax got a laydown of the house and the possible ghosts. They explained in turn that Xiaojiao had immediately talked to her parents when her call with Xiaotian ended. Spindrax didn’t have any plans this summer so when she heard about the situation when she dropped by to give Xiaojiao her wrench, she had volunteered to come and help.

Pigsy had texted Tang, who had agreed, and the two had immediately packed. “And we spent most of the night driving, which is...wow. Five hours on the motorcycle isn’t the best thing in the world.” Xiaojiao said, rubbing her butt with a pained look. Now that she said that, he could see the dark bags forming under her eyes.

“Are you two sure you want to help right away?” Xiaotian asked, feeling concern rise up. Some of the staircases at the manor were a bit steep. One sleep-deprived slip and he would no longer have friends. “You two can nap here while I bring some of the basic cleaning supplies up there.”

“Wha- No?! We came to help!”

He mused on this and then leaned over to whisper in her ear. “You can see if Spindrax wants to snuggle.” They had mentioned that their room only had one bed…

Xiaojiao’s cheeks flushed at the mention of her crush. “You play dirty.” she grumbled, standing up. “But, fine. We will take a nap just to make you feel better.” She grabbed Spindrax’s hand and dragged her to the staircase. She paused to whirl around. “But be back soon! I at least wanna look around the town with you!”

He nodded his agreement with a giggle, waving bye as the girls disappeared. Syntax chuckled as he walked by, grabbing their tray of empty dishes. “I guess you won’t need a packed lunch?”

He was kind enough to point Xiaotian in the direction of a hardware store. Using the credit card that had been in the envelope with the manor key that had been waiting for him when he came, he headed out. He bought gloves, sponges, a bucket and mop, and a broom. He also found himself grabbing a marble cleaner, some weedkiller for the garden he hadn’t looked at yet, wet wipes, and glass cleaner. (He winced at the thought of cleaning all those mirrors in the ballroom.)

With that, Xiaotian piled all he could in the bucket and started towards the trail. Some village children stopped to watch him. It was halfway up the trail that he thought of the fact some of them probably wanted pocket money, enough to help him lug supplies up here. He brushed the thought away as he opened the gate. Much to his satisfaction, his nightmare no longer twisted the manor in his mind. It was still the same beautiful old house.

Inside, the inside was the same dark space. He couldn’t help but pause, expecting to be attacked again. When nothing happened, Xiaotian groaned. “Jumping at shadows.” he told himself, dropping the bucket down.

He probably should see if he could get a generator in here. The gas lights were interesting, but he didn’t want to burn down the manor, just like his dream- which he was working on forgetting. Xiaotian turned his thoughts away from his dream and to the instructions on the marble cleaner. He could get started, at least.

Setting everything on the steps, Xiaotian headed to the kitchen. Thankfully, the odd leaving behind of everything hadn’t extended to any food. That would’ve been gross. He pumped water into the bucket and then headed to the entryway, following the instructions and setting to work.

Finally, the marble floor in here was reflecting his proud smile. “There we go,” he couldn’t help but coo. “I bet that feels better...if you could feel. Which you cannot.” He really needed to remember that the house wasn’t alive. He returned to the kitchen to pour the leftover water out, setting the bucket and mop next to the backdoor. Now that was done, he should get back.

Or… he could see if the brush he had bought at the store could get the dust off the paintings.

Xiaotian found himself giving himself more and more small tasks in the entryway, wanting to stay a moment longer.

Just one more task, a little bit longer…

Just a little bit longer…

Just a little bit...

He was unaware of the monkey poking its head in, giving a concerned hoot. He didn’t answer, scrubbing at the steps with a dazed look. The monkey gave another hoot, which transformed into a screech. Xiaotian snapped his head up at the noise. The hazy look in his eyes faded. “Oh, hey buddy.”

His stomach rumbled. “Right, didn’t bring lunch.” He stood and immediately felt woozy, staggering back to sitting on the stairs. The monkey screeched and ran and grabbed his hands, pulling. “Hey, hey, buddy- woah okay!” He found himself dragged out of the manor, the monkey not even pausing to let him close the door or gate.

Xiaotian didn’t stop until the monkey was screeching as he opened the door to the restaurant. What felt like the entire village’s heads snapped to him. “Uh…” he said. “Hi. Got distracted.”

“Xiaotian!”

Mr. Tang, Wukong sitting next to him, waved from a table. Xiaojiao and Spindrax were sitting across from them. “I was worried!” the scholar said as he sat down. “Your friends told me you were just going for a quick trip up.”

“I figured I could get started.” Xiaotian explained sheepishly. “I must’ve lost track of time. Sorry.” His stomach rumbled and he found a bowl of noodles pushed in front of him. “Thanks.”

“It’s fine.” Xiaojiao said, swatting Tang’s chopsticks, reaching for Xiaotian’s bowl, away. “But save some work!”

“It was just the entryway. Believe me, I saved work for all of us.”

The lunch continued with conversation about the city and Wukong’s job at the nature reserve, where Xiaotian’s monkey buddy lived. Throughout it, he could feel the village watching. Finally, the meal came to an end and Xiaojiao was dragging him and Spin out, pulling out her phone as they walked.

“Hey, party people!” she said, clearly streaming. “It’s your girl Mei here with her besties MK and Spin!” She craned the camera and they waved, both used to it by now. “So, we’re here in a small mountain village to help clean an abandoned mansion!” A comment popped up. “Right! MK, what can you tell us about the manor?”

“Well, it’s called Fiery Cloud Manor and it's allegedly built in the spot where Red Boy…” He continued on in this vein until they got to the foot of the trail. Then it was Xiaojiao gasping and awing over the natural beauty. Spin leaned over at one point.

“She’s going to use all of her storage space before the summer’s over. I can feel it.”

Xiaotian nodded, unable to resist a smile anyway.

#my writing #The Ghosts of Fiery Cloud Manor #Monkie Kid #Lego Monkie Kid #Qi Xiaotian #Long Xiaojiao #MK #Mei #Spindrax #Zoisiteshipping #Tang #Sun Wukong

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shishi-tls · 5 years ago

Text

Kanroji Mitsuri’s Secrecy

I’M DONE WITH THIS, FINALLY, BANZAI.

Okay, here’s my surprise (and Christmas present) for everyone. This is chapter 3 of the second novel of Kimetsu no Yaiba (Kataha no Chō). Each chapter’s the story of one character, so it’s not like you missed part 1 and 2 of Mitsuri’s story.

I apologize it took double the time I thought it would take me, I honestly thought about giving up many times ohohoho. But hey, here you have it.

This is a mid-quality translation, I do believe it’s readable, but there’re some parts I didn’t give too much thought and left them as short or simple sentences. I tried, okay?

This is a fantranslation, there could be mistranslations. Read at your own risk.

Also, typos, grammatical errors, whatever there is, just leave a relpy and I’ll try to fix it as soon as possible.

Last thing: if you want to put this up on another website or translate it to another language you’re free to do so, BUT LET ME KNOW, OK?

One Winged Butterfly

Chapter 3: Kanroji Mitsuri’s Secrecy

1.-

The first time I met her I thought ‘wow, such a pretty girl’.

Pure white skin and clear violet eyes; stunningly beautiful and delicate; kind and doesn’t discriminate anyone.

But, can create things like poison to kill Demons.

Strong and intelligent, cute, brave… a lovely girl.

I would be very happy if we could be friends. We are both girls, so there should be a lot of things we could talk about…

That’s why, when I heard about it, my head went blank and couldn’t think about anything.

“Kochō-sama’s parents were killed right before her eyes, and on top of that her sister Kanae-sama too… dying in such a way…”

Ah….

I didn’t know.

Shinobu-chan. I didn’t know.

“Well you see, I joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find a gentleman who would marry me for life. For a girl, it’s actually better someone who’s stronger than themselves, no? We want to be protected. Hey, Shinobu-chan, don’t you think so?”

If I’d known, I’d never said that.

Such a frivolous reason.

If I had known Shinobu-chan’s past, I wouldn’t have been able to say it.

Ah, how stupid of me.

When I told her that, how did she feel?

She was a little startled, but then she answered with the smiling face she always has.

‘I see… Who knows. I’m sure Kanroji-san will find someone wonderful’.

It must have been really unpleasant and annoying, right?

Did she think she didn’t want to be together with such a simpleton?

Hey, Shinobu-chan…

I’m.

You see, I…

2.-

“Kanroji-san’s acting weird?”

Kochō Shinobu tilted her head to the side at her coworker who came so suddenly.

They’re currently inside her office at the Butterfly Estate, where she –as the Insect Pillar– lives. This is a place where poison effective against Demons is developed and Slayers are treated or nursed after being wounded in battle. Therefore, most visitors are wounded people.

However, her coworker Iguro Obanai came here without a single scratch and as soon as they met, he started to talk anxiously about the Love Pillar, Kanroji Mitsuri, with a serious face.

“In what way is she acting weird?”

“Everything, she’s weird all around. You haven’t noticed?”

Iguro makes that question and looks at her as if accusing her for something.

As some sort of signal, the snake wrapped around Iguro’s neck sticks out its long tongue. It’s Kaburamaru, the Snake Pillar’s beloved snake.

“Hmm, well…”

Shinobu with the tip of her index finger softly traces around her upper lip. She tries to remember Kanroji’s behavior in the last Pillar meeting, however…

“Nothing in particular”.

“Just where do you have your eyes attached to?” Are those stupidly big eyes of yours blind? Or maybe just decoratives?”

After some nagging, Iguro made a big sigh.

Shinobu stopped herself from speaking her thoughts out loud ‘unlike you, I don’t exchange letters with her frequently’ and just smiled and apologized.

“Oh my, I’m very sorry”.

Even though it’s daytime and Demons can’t move around, each Pillar should be very busy as they shoulder a lot of heavy responsibilities. However, he pushed all of those aside and came here, so he isn’t doing this just for show or on a whim. Despite his appearance, Iguro cares about his colleagues more than others.

“It’s fine if they’re things you saw from your own scope, so could you please tell me what’s so strange about Kanroji-san?”

Once Shinobu asked again, Iguro nodded with an obedient look.

And then…

“Just fifty”.

“Yes?”

“Normally, she would eat a hundred of those dango sticks, but she only had fifty. You hear me? Just fifty. That Kanroji. Her favorite dangos.”

“……”

Being stared fixedly by his bloodshot eyes right in front of her, Shinobu unconsciously stepped back. Contrary to her, Iguro leaned forward.

“Moreover, she replies coldly to my letters. Her letters are awfully plain and seem to be written to a stranger. Why? It’s weird. Anything and everything is weird.”

“Aoi, Iguro-san’s already leaving.”

Shinobu turned her back to Iguro, walked to the room’s door and said “Iguro-san, the exit is over there.”

“It’s not just that”.

Despite Shinobu’s sarcasm, Iguro kept talking.

“In the last Pillar meeting, Kanroji didn’t even try to look at the eyes of any Pillar. And not only the Pillars’, Oyakata-sama’s too.”

Shinobu turned around with a surprised face.

Every Pillar respects and loves dearly Oyakata-sama –Ubuyashiki Kagaya– from the bottom of their hearts. Mitsuri’s not the exception, she also cares about Oyakata-sama. As far as Shinobu knows, Mitsuri has never opposed his will and would even put him above everything else. It was certainly strange for someone like her to avert her eyes from Oyakata-sama .

“And after that, Tokitō picked up a handkerchief she had dropped, but when he tried to talk to her she jumped high enough to reach the roof and ran away.”

“Yes, that seems strange”.

If Mitsuri was herself, her heart would have throbbed and expressed her gratitude honestly by saying ‘thank you, Muichirō-kun’.

“Was it then when you first noticed something strange on her behavior?”

“No, she was already acting weird 12 days before that.”

Shinobu was full of retorts at him answering immediately and with such detail, but that aside, this meant Mitsuri has been like this for nearly half a month.

By all means, this was worrisome.

“There could be something wrong with her health. I’ll try to ask her indirectly, you think about something too. Got that, Kochō?”

After voicing everything he wanted to say and seeing Shinobu nod, he left the Estate. Shinobu, left alone in the examination room, sat down on the chair. There was no need for him to go all the way to visit her, he could’ve just wrote a letter and sent it with a crow. It’s quite charming that Iguro cares about Mitsuri to that extent, but…

“Good grief. When it comes to Kanroji-san, Iguro-san immediately becomes unreliable.”

Relaxing her body, Shinobu let out a short sigh. It came to her mind the cute face of the only other Pillar of her same gender, Kanroji Mitsuri.

“Shinobu-chan, Shinobu-chan.”

She’s older than her, but has an innocent smile and becomes attached to others just like a kitty would. Thinking about the face that had crossed her mind, Shinobu gently narrowed her eyes.

Outside the windows, the wind blew against the cherry blossom trees and shaked its branches, now with only leaves left on them.

3.-

A thin and soft katana ran in a moonless night, almost as if it was alive.

“Breath of Love, First Style: Shivers of First Love!”

A greatly bended sword cuts a huge Demon up to pieces at lightning speed, its head rolled over the ground.

Mitsuri exhaled slightly, for some reason she felt her body heavier than usual and her katana wasn’t cutting as sharp as it should. It was distressing, her head was like in a haze.

“Thank you… thank you very much!”

The couple she had saved was thanking her, the man was bowing his head over and over again while the shivering woman asked her

“Are… are you okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well… You’re hurt…”

“Oh, no, I’m not…”

Mitsuri noticed the woman was looking at one of her cheeks and wiped it with the back of her left hand. There was blood on it. Seeing this, she finally understood she’d been injured.

“For our sake… because you protected us…”

“We’re really grateful, thank you so much…”

The woman apologized while crying and the man lowered his head once more. Mitsuri waved both of her hands flustered.

“Ah! Don’t worry about it! This is nothing at all, nothing! I’m sorry for making you frightened. But, I’m happy you’re both okay.”

Mitsuri smiled at them and the man was suddenly moved to tears.

“To tell you the truth, my wife’s actually pregnant.”

“Uh… really? You’re having a baby?”

Surprised, Mitsuri looks at the woman who finally shows a smile. Her cheeks which were wet with tears shyly transformed into a smile.

“Yes, the due date should be in around 3 months.”

Her belly did seem plump.

“I see, congratulations. Take care of your body.”

“We owe you our lives, thank you very much.”

The man says his thanks again and afterwards, the couple cuddled close together and disappeared into the night.

Mitsuri, while watching them until they were out of sight, lifted her hand to her chest.

Thump thump, her heart pounded.

If that Demon’s attack had cut that woman’s belly instead of my cheek…

As soon as she imagined it, she found herself terrified.

That Demon wasn’t weak, but it wasn’t very strong too. If I had been myself, I’d have saved them without getting a single scratch.

(And everything would have ended well, without that pregnant woman making such a face…)

The wet night wind caressed her cheeks. Mitsuri gently ran her fingers over the wound.

There was almost no pain.

But she couldn’t help but feel like something very important was falling and spilling over from that opened wound.

4.-

“Sigh…”

Finishing her night round and exposed to the brilliant sunlight, Mitsuri dragged her heavy body through the city.

She went in her favorite restaurant and ordered some tempura rice bowl, cold soba with dipping sauce, grilled fish with rice and miso soup.

It seemed quite a lot to eat as a breakfast, but for Mitsuri this amount was like a tenth of what she would usually eat.

Shortly thereafter, tea was brought to her and she sipped it absentmindedly.

She gave a sigh again.

Since that time she became eager in disciplining herself and made sure to not have any superficial feelings towards anyone.

In short, she sealed away her love. She’d to give up finding someone who would marry her for life and committed herself to forbid her heart to flutter every day.

However, it seemed like someone was mocking her because things that would make her heart flutter happened one after another.

(I wonder why… it’s only at times like this… )

The timing was so bad that brought Misturi to the verge of tears. The last Pillar meeting was specially the worst.

That day she and the Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyōjurō, ended up at the same place by looking for a shelter from the rain and he told her “You’re going to catch a cold! Put this on, Kanroji!!”, covering her with his haori. She also saw an unexpected side of the Rock Pillar, Himejima Gyōmei, saying “Namu. Cats are cute…” while carrying in his arms a kitten. Then, she met by accident with the Wind Pillar, Shinazugawa Sanemi, just when he was feeding a stray puppy. On top of that, she spotted the Water Pillar, Tomioka Giyū, taking a nap in the open corridor and waking up with a sudden jerk. Moreover, she tripped but Uzui catched her in his arms before falling to the ground telling her “be careful, don’t go tripping so plainly.” And finally, Iguro inviting her to a newly opened udon shop.

Mitsuri was depressed because she had to suppress her heart from throbbing every time, but she just couldn’t help it.

… In the end,

“Mitsuri, is something troubling you? If you don’t mind, you can talk to me.”

(I even made Oyakata-sama worry… and when I was leaving, Muichirō tried to tell me something but I just ran away.)

This is the worst.

I got too nervous around Shinobu and couldn’t even look at her face.

(What… am I doing?)

And the final blow: she got hurt while fighting an enemy who wasn’t even part of the Twelve Demon Moons.

Mitsuri dropped her shoulders dejected and restlessly ate her tempura rice bowl brought by the waitress.

(Is it really okay to keep on like this?)

Thinking absentmindedly, she dropped the tempura she had picked with her chopsticks into the bowl. Inside of it there was still more than two thirds of rice left. She should be hungry, but she didn’t feel like eating. In fact, everything she tried to eat was tasteless and felt like chewing sand. She hadn’t felt like this since her first marriage interview was broken off.

“Kanroji-san, your body shape is the same as other people, but you’ve eight times more muscles than them. In other words, your muscle density is quite high.”

The one who told her this was none other than Shinobu.

“That’s why, you have to eat a lot. People who have more muscles have a higher basal metabolic rate. So please, do at least eat eight times more than a regular human does.”

“But, for a girl… to eat that much, um… won’t people be disgusted? won’t I be disliked?”

“You don’t have to forcibly stick with someone who would stop you from taking the nourishment you need. You should just do this to that kind of people.”

Saying that and keeping that lovely smile of hers, she made as though she was hitting someone with her fists.

“Right?”

“Geez, Shinobu-chan…”

Mitsuri had no idea how much those words and smile had saved her.

A few days after this exchange with Shinobu, Mitsuri went with Iguro to have some lunch. She timidly ordered what she wanted to eat. Iguro, who ate the least among the pillars, only asked for tea and something small to eat. In spite of Mitsuri’s fears, Iguro did not reproach Mitsuri for her gluttony, on the contrary, he insisted her ‘eat this too’ and ordered more food.

He was also the one who casually gave her those long striped socks without asking for anything in return when she was too embarrassed to use her uniform, which showed too much skin, and wasn’t able to burn it right in front of the tailor like Shinobu had done.

“Kanroji, so you were here after all.”

Mitsuri lifted her head in surprise at the sound of a familiar voice and saw the very face of the one she was thinking about just now.

She was taken aback by this.

“I, Iguro-san!? Why’re you here!?”

“I was looking for you to talk about something.”

As if it was the most natural thing to do, Iguro took the seat in front of Mitsuri and, for some reason, frowned deeply.

“Kanroji, what happened? That…”

“Uh?”, without thinking, she looked down at her rice bowl flustered.

“Did I drop some rice?”

Or was she eating sloppily? Oh no, did she have food on her face?

Mitsuri was getting really nervous, however Iguro had questioned her because of something entirely different.

His next words were colder than ice.

“Why is there a wound on your cheek?”

“Ah! This? This is from yesterday’s night round… I got careless and…”

As soon as she replied in a flurry, Iguro’s eyes became immediately slanted.

Iguro was rather a cool-headed coworker, but seeing him for the first time making such a grim face made her break out in a cold sweat.

(He’s angry. He must be disappointed with me getting injured when I wasn’t even fighting one of the Twelve Moons. What should I do? Is he fed up with me?)

While Mitsuri was earnestly trying to make herself as small as possible, Iguro suddenly jumped to his feet.

“Where is it?”

“Uwaa!”

Mitsuri could only shrug her shoulders as a reflex.

“Where’s that trash.”

“Eh?”

“The trash that ruined your rosy cheeks.”

“Eh…ah, well…”

Mitsuri was about to answer him she had already beaten it, but Iguro interrupted her groaning with deep hatred.

“That trash deserves certain death. I’ll go now and cut him into small pieces.”

Mitsuri stopped him in a hurry as he was already trying to leave the shop.

“W, Wait, Iguro-san! It’s already gone. Umm… You see, I cut its neck that same night… so…”

“…”

Finally coming to his senses, Iguro stopped his bloodlust and went back to sit in front of Mitsuri again. Then, he covered his forehead with a hand and apologized.

“Sorry.”

And muttered a few words very embarrassed.

“Me of all people…losing my mind in anger.”

“…Iguro-san.”

(So, you were not angry with me…)

On the contrary, he was really worried about her.

She felt her heart slowly getting warmer.

Come to think of it, Iguro has been kind to her ever since she joined the Corps, he would help her whenever she was troubled with something. He, who would awkwardly address her

—Kanroji.

“There’s something troubling you, no?”

“Eh?…”

“If you’re okay with me, I’d like you to tell me.”

“Iguro-san…”

“I want to help you, Kanroji.”

“!”

Her chest tightened and her heart made a loud noise at his sincere voice and serious gaze, but at that instant, Shinobu’s face came to her mind.

“…!! I can’t!”

“Kanroji?”

Mitsuri jumped to her feet and Iguro looked up at her dumbfounded. She couldn’t look at him in the eyes.

“I, I just remembered I have some stuff to do! Sorry. I’m leaving, okay?

Coming up somehow with those words, she thrust her money at the shopkeeper and almost tripped rushing out the shop.

(I’m sorry, Iguro-san! I’m so sorry.)

Even though you are worried about me.

Even though you want to help me.

But, that will only make my heart leap for him…

If that happened, instead of getting help, I would just get stuck in an awful situation. I can’t always rely on him.

She left the shop as if she was running away from it.

Several buildings away, she finally calmed down.

(This is something I have to do alone. I can’t rely on Iguro-san forever.)

She slapped her cheeks with both hands with energy.

However, the haze in her head wasn’t cleared in the least.

And then, a few days later—

“Haaaah….”

Mitsuri’s condition, instead of improving, only got worse day by day. It felt like she was extremely suffocated and her body was as heavy as lead. Maybe this was the reason behind not being able to use the Breath of Love properly. It was clear it has weakened.

(I really wonder what’s wrong with me…)

Can I keep on as a Pillar like this?

In the end, I’ve only been feeling miserable and got a message from Shinobu to boot.

Please, come to the Butterfly Estate whenever it suits you.

Mitsuri would normally be happy with this kind of invitation, but this time it only troubled her even more.

(What would Shinobu-chan want from me?)

It’ll be too awkward to see her now… but I can't’ ignore her.

Just when she had started to walk heavily towards the Butterfly Estate, she heard an “ah!” coming from behind her.

“The Demon hunter… sis*?” (nee-chan*)

She turned back at the perplexed voice.

“Yeah, I thought so! It’s sis!”

Some time ago, Mitsuri had saved a boy and his mother from a Demon. Today that boy was standing in front of her, with a smile in his tanned face.

“I’m glad. I’ve been looking you forever, sis.”

“Me?”

Mitsuri blinked her eyes.

“What is it? Some advice? Is something troubling you?”

“…”

Suddenly, the boy’s behaviour changed and became aware of his surroundings. Lowering his voice he told her:

“Actually, the restaurant where my mom works is close by.”

It seems he doesn’t want her mother to know about whatever he wants to tell me.

“Mom will get mad if she hears this.”

A mere child just talked as if he were a grown up man.

“Oh my….”

Holding back a laugh, Mitsuri decided to take him to her favorite teahouse which was some distance away from there.

Sitting right outside the teahouse, the boy happily stuffed his mouth with dangos.

“Have you been well? You’re all grown up! You’re a lot taller now.”

“I’m like 15cm taller since that time.”

“15cm. Boys surely grow up fast.”

Mitsuri smiled with a wide grin. She had a younger brother around the same age as this boy and couldn’t help but see him in this child.

“So? What did you want to talk with me?”

The boy gulped down the dangos and slowly opened his mouth.

“Y’know, I want to be a carpenter.”

“Oh, that’s good. Are you good at making things?”

“Yeah, kind of. My deceased dad was a carpenter.”

“Oh…”

She wasn’t sure how to reply.

However, the boy was attentive to her and kept talking.

“It’s okay, my dad died 3 years ago already.”

He fixed his deep dark eyes on the sky.

“He got swept away by the river and drowned when he was building a bridge. He was a skillful carpenter, but he was a poor swimmer.”

“So that’s what happened…”

Mitsuri lightly bit her lower lip and looked at the boy’s tanned face.

Her mind strongly recalled his mother when she saved both, holding his son with large tears running down her face. Even now she remembered vividly how she kowtowed, bowing her head over and over again.

“Thank you so much for saving my son. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Now that she’d heard what had happened to the father, that memory became a heartrending one.

“Because of that accident my mom won’t let me become a carpenter, it makes her remember about father. She says she wants me to become an apprentice and live in a haberdashery or kimono shop… but, I don’t want to become one of those. I want to be a carpenter.”

The boy tightened his grip of his hand and continued.

“I’m keeping it a secret from mom, I’m planning to become an apprentice of a boss who was an acquaintance of my father’s. Everything’s been arranged.”

“… Why are you telling this to me?”

Mitsuri asked him confused. They boy hesitated at first but then answered brusquely.

“‘Cuz, sis, you were super cool when you saved me and mom.”

“Eh…”

She was extremely puzzled. At that time, she had just joined the Corps and was a lower ranked Slayer who only had her strength to boast, but wasn’t competent at all. She got cut all over and it took her a lot of time to chop off the Demon’s head. Anyways, she had been desperate. She hadn’t been in a state in which she should receive some flattery or even be called cool.

“But, y’know, I was really weak then! Like, I could only reach a lame victory and… I wasn’t cool in the sligh-”

“You were cool!!”

The boy shouted, cutting off her words.

“You fought with everything you got, for us, for complete strangers. Despite being a woman, you went so far as getting all battered… sis, you were cooler than anyone.”

The boy’s honest words pierced her heart.

Maybe because of his excitement, the boy’s earlobes were turning red as the sunset.

“Seeing you like that it made me think. I want to be like that too, doing what I really I want and be of help to others. I don’t want to give up or regret anything. That’s why, it doesn’t matter how much my mom cries for it, I’m going to become a carpenter and show everyone I can make a bridge that surpasses my father’s.”

“…”

“I was looking for you forever because I wanted to tell only sis about this. Okay then, thanks for the dangos.”

Saying that, they boy ran off. There wasn’t even time to call him out.

His back grew smaller and smaller until he dissapeared in the crowd.

“…”

Mitsuri stared in a daze at the spot she last saw him…

5.-

“Kanroji-sama, thank you for visiting us. Shinobu-sama’s waiting for you.”

After arriving at the Butterfly Estate, Kanzaki Aoi guided her to the training area with a troubled face. Mitsuri tilted her head while trembling.

(Why at the training area?)

Just as the name implies, that place is a dojo where injured soldiers go through a training regiment to boost their recovery process and also where Shinobu trains herself and her Tsuguko.

Mitsuri had visited the Butterly Estate before, but this was the first time she was called to the training grounds.

With a worried face, Aoi left her alone and she timidly opened the sliding door to the dojo.

“Umm… Shinobu-chan?”

“Hello, Kanroji-san.”

And there she was, at the center of the vast dojo. She was sitting with two bamboo swords at her side. However, she wasn’t smiling as usual.

With a frosty look, she grabbed both swords, stood up and tossed one of the swords to Mitsuri.

(…Eh?)

She caught it with her hand reflexively.

Shinobu, still stone-faced asked her.

“Could I ask you for a match?”

Despite making a request, it seemed that Shinobu had no intention of listening to her answer as she readied her bamboo sword and pointed it towards Mitsuri.

“Eh?… Wha- Eh? Shinobu-chan?”

While Mitsuri was confused and not able to understand the situation, Shinobu gave her a sidelong glance and rushed in without making a sound. In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between them and knocked the sword in Mitsuri’s hands off.

The low pitched sound of the sword hitting the floor resounded in the dojo.

“Just now—”

Shinobu glanced sharply at Mitsuri who stood still and dumbfounded.

“You don’t even have half of your strength. If you were yourself, it wouldn’t have mattered how low your guard was, you’d have dodged that easily.”

“…Ah… Um…”

Shinobu’s voice had a strict tone, almost as if she was reproaching her. Mitsuri became flustered.

“It looks like you can’t use the Breath of Love properly.”

“Th- that’s… Um…”

What she said was exactly correct and made Mitsuri more and more dispirited.

Shinobu let out a soundless sigh and lowered her sword. She directed a chilly look to Mitsuri’s body.

“You look pale and your cheeks are hollow. You haven’t been eating enough to keep your muscles healthy, have you?

“!!”

“I’m not strong as a swordswoman, however Kanroji-san’s different. What makes you an excellent swordswoman is your talent to use a longsword as it pleases you without worries, your incredible flexibility, the strength you got by birth and, above everything else, your overwhelming honesty.

Mitsuri fell completely silent.

“Kanroji-san.”

Shinobu addressed her emotionlessly.

“Why are you trying to make yourself weaker?”

Her heart jumped from the shock.

She fearfully looked at Shinobu, who was already looking back at her.

Mitsuri gulped, but the sound of it felt like another person had done it.

If she was going to talk, now was the moment.

But—

(No… I can’t say it…. I just can’t.)

If she said it frankly, it would just hurt Shinobu. She would make her remember unpleasant and sad things—

No, wrong. In truth, she was scared of saying it. Mitsuri was deceiving herself by thinking it was all for Shinobu’s sake, when it actually was for her own. She was too afraid of being hated by her precious friend if she confessed, of destroying their friendship and losing a friend.

Mitsuri casted her eyes downwards to avoid Shinobu’s eyes and squeezed her hands.

(What should I do… Something else, I could tell her another rea-)

At the instant she thought that, a voice sounded in her ears.

— You were cool!!

Ah…

Mitsuri lifted her head energetically.

That boy told her she was cooler than anyone when she was still a novice. She had felt a huge relief and was happy they were alive.

She’d thought she finally found a place where it was fine to stay, aside from her family.

Thank you.

It was actually Mitsuri the one who wanted to say those words.

(I can’t….I mustn’t tell lies.)

If I do it, I won’t be able to stay here anymore.

I won’t be able to face Shinobu ever again.

(I have to tell her properly… my feelings.)

She shut her eyes tightly, then opened them and looked directly at Shinobu’s eyes.

“—Shinobu-chan, I…”

Just by saying those few words, her mouth went dry. She knew she was speaking in a shrill voice.

“I… heard it…. from the Kakushi….about Shinobu-chan.”

“….”

Shinobu’d been watching her, still with a cold expression. Even now, there couldn’t be seen any change in her emotions.

If she really had complete control of her emotions, just how much training did she go through to reach that?

A girl whose parents were slaughtered by Demons right before her eyes and whose beloved sister was snatched away too.

The pain and sorrow almost made Mitsuri’s heart falter, but she eagerly fought them back.

“… I, was embarrassed at my reason to join the Corps… to find someone special and love… I felt sorry for Shinobu-chan. I thought I shouldn’t be like this, I needed to pull myself together… But,”

Sealing away her love made her surprisingly weak. The connection between her heart and the Breath of Love was deeper than she’d thought.

“I finally got it now. I can’t do that. I have to become stronger being myself. If not, I won’t be able to protect anyone.”

She became afraid of being hated by those precious to her and as a result she neglected those she was supposed to protect. She unreasonably weakened the power and strength given to her by birth and tried to live in falsehood. All when she’d supposedly decided to live somewhere where lies were not needed and use this power granted by her parents to save as many people as she could…

“This is me! This is Kanroji Mitsuri!! My heart leaps for many kinds of people, I eat a lot and I’m really strong! … But… I, I—”

“…..”

“Shinobu-chan… I really love you, okay?”

Saying that and before she could close her mouth, Shinobu’s pure white throat started to move slightly.

“Aside from me, there’re a lot of members in the Corps who had their parents snatched away from them by Demons.”

Mitsuri’s heart throbbed in pain at her calm voice.

“Aoi, Sumi, Kiyo and Naho too. Their families were killed by Demons and had nowhere else to go, so they live here with me.

Mitsuri was hanging her head again, but a soft voice reached her hears.

“However, me and those girls would never be jealous of your situation or loath you because of your reasons for joining the Corps. But, well, I was surprised at first when I heard it.”

“Eh?…”

Mitsuri heard a giggle slip out in the last sentence, she lifted her head in surprise and saw Shinobu with a smile playing on her lips. Their eyes met.

With Shinobu’s cold expression gone, Mitsuri was warmly wrapped in with her usual gentle smile.

“Everyone here harbors hatred and grief, and despite licking each other’s wound, we can’t move forward. For us, Kanroji-san’s cheerfulness and smile is what always saves us.”

“Shinobu… chan…”

In Shinobu’s eyes, she could see herself ready to burst into tears.

Her deep violet eyes looked the same as the first time they met, they were the most beautiful thing in the world.

“So, please, don’t do things like lying to yourself. I really like you as you are.”

Unable to endure it, she clinged to Shinobu who was way smaller than herself. Lukewarm tears were shedded one after another.

“Shinobu-chanShinobu-chanShinobu-chan!!!”

“I’m sorry for testing you like that.”

“No, it’s fine! Really fine… I was being stupid.”

Still clinging to her Mitsuri shook her head, tickling Shinobu and making her laugh.

“Please, from now on you have to eat properly, okay?”

“Yeah, I will! I’ll eat a lot. And get stronger!”

“Iguro-san was worried too.”

And added a few more words in a whisper.

‘To the point of being a little overprotective.’

“Yeah, I’ll apologize to him too. And to Muichirō-kun…

Wahhhh.

Mitsuri cried like a child and Shinobu softly patted her back with her small hand, in the same way one would do it to a baby.

Then, she murmured.

“—To tell you the truth, I was always jealous. Jealous of your constitution.”

“Eh?”

“If I too had muscles like you, if I was taller… Then…”

“Shinobu… chan?”

“I said too much, please forget it.”

She muttered in her arms.

What was she going to say after ‘then’?

Mitsuri felt like the words left unsaid were full of feelings strong enough to be heartbreaking, feelings which would rather burn down everything.

The only swordsman who can’t cut off a Demon’s head among all the Pillars.

The body she was holding now felt so fleeting, or rather it was like a child’s, that it made her cry loudly once more.

She promised herself again.

That she’d live without making lies.

That she’d kill as many Demons as possible.

And she’d protect as many smiles and happiness as she could.

So that she can live proudly with her cherished friends in this precious place—.

6.-

“Kanroji-san, why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?”

“Uh? Me?”

In the corridor of Tecchikawahara’s mansion, Kamado Tanjirō asked her a question.

This boy, who joined the Corps to turn her sister back to a human, had fiery red eyes. They were really pretty.

He was looking at her straight into her eyes, it almost made her shrink back.

“It’s kinda embarrassing… Oh, what should I do. You wanna hear?”

Mitsuri fidgeted.

Nezuko, who through her Demon Blood Arts had shrunk her boy to the size of a child, looked up at her curiously. Mitsuri gently brushed her black hair.

“You see…”

— Kanroji Mitsuri continued her story with a smile in her face.

FIN

TL:SoMeBoDY kILL ME

#kimetsu no yaiba #kimetsu #demon slayer #one winged butterfly #kataha no cho #translations #Kanroji Mitsuri #iguro obanai #kochou shinobu #pillars #love pillar #snake pillar #insect pillar #hashira

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myhockeyworld87 · 5 years ago

Text

Why are you here - Jamie Oleksiak

Word Count: 3189

Requested: Yes

POV: Reader

Warnings: NSFW, Smut, Language, angst

Notes: Please note the times in which this story takes place. Since you all loved the first Jamie O story, here’s a new. Hope you enjoy this one just as much! Happy Reading all!!!

You’d met Jamie on Valentine’s day in 2016. On a whim, you and your friends had decided to have a Galentine’s day and all go out to dinner together. One of your friends had made reservations for the five of you at a nice restaurant in downtown Dallas. The meal had been great, but the drinks afterward at a nearby bar even better. That’s when you saw Jamie, he was there with some friends as well. His sheer frame alone caught your attention. One of his friends sent you all over a round of drinks and the next thing you knew, you were all walking over to say thank you.

Jamie was shy and quiet, not really participating in the conversation at first; which intrigued you. You wanted to know more about this gentle giant of a man, and so you decided to get to know him a little better. The more you talked to him, the more your attraction to him grew. He was sweet and kind, with a killer smile. He asked for your phone number and things progressed from there. Over the next month, you two were practically inseparable, at least when he was in town.

By the first part of April, the two of you were exclusive. Most nights you either spent at his place or he stayed at yours and when the season ended, he took you on a week-long vacation to the Caribbean. He spent most of the summer in Toronto, though he’d fly you up for long weekends or fly back to Dallas from time to time. He even had you join him and his family in Rio when his sister competed in the Olympics. Things between the two of you were so good, you never saw the breakup coming.

December 2017…

“What do you mean they’re looking to trade you?” Jamie had sprung the information on you after the two of you had dinner at his place.

“I’m not sure what part you don’t get. The GM called me and said they’re working on a deal with Pittsburgh.” It was the first time in your relationship that you couldn’t read where his thoughts were on the issue. Did he want this? Or did he want to stay in Dallas? And what did this mean for the two of you? You wanted to ask all these questions, yet somehow you didn’t.

“Are you ok?”

“I mean what am I going to do about it.” He was so tight-lipped about this, you didn’t know how to handle things.

“Do you want to talk about it?” You thought he would know by now that he could tell you anything but wanted to spell it out for him just in case.

“Not really.” You rolled your eyes in frustration if he didn’t want to talk there was nothing you could really do.

He was sitting at the kitchen island, head in his hand, just sort of staring off into space, while you finished up the dishes. As soon as you put the last dish away, you walked over and wrapped your arms around his waist. Just as you went to tell him that everything would be fine, his phone rang and your heart sank. He jumped out of your embrace and wandered around the living room. There was a lot of ‘okays’ and ‘sures’, but the one that cut the most was ‘I understand.’ And then the call was over. His face hung low and you didn’t need to ask what the conversation was about, to know he’s been traded to Pittsburgh. He didn’t say anything just stood there and so did you. A tear slid slowly down your cheek as his phone rang again. You didn’t hear any of the conversation as the ringing in your ears was way too loud. As soon as he hung up though, he had your full attention. “I have to be on the plane tomorrow morning at seven.”

“What? Why so soon? I don’t understand.”

“Fuck (Y/N) how can you not understand. This is my job, you knew this could happen when we started dating.”

He was angry, more about the trade than your questions and you knew that deep down; though his words still hurt. You just wanted more time. Time to talk, time to figure out what this all meant for the two of you. It wasn’t something that you ever discussed, yet here it was happening. He headed back to the bedroom and you followed him. “Jamie…”

You wanted to say more, but his voice stopped you. “I can’t do this right now. I have to pack.”

“We have to do this now.”

His phone rang again. You wanted to take the damn thing and smash it against the wall. This time there was a little bit of a spark to his voice, and you heard him say, ‘I’m excited to be there too. Pittsburgh is a great team.’ Had you actually heard him just say that. From what you could tell, this was not a man elated to be going to another team. When he finally ended, he looked up at you. You knew what he saw, tears in your eyes and worry written all over your face. “I’ve gotta look at this as a fresh start. I haven’t had the best of seasons and this is at least a chance to prove myself.”

“A fresh start huh?” Those were the words that stuck out the most. “In everything?” you added.

“Yeah, I think so.” You felt your heart splinter into a million pieces and in that moment you knew there was nothing you could say to change his mind. Though you knew this day could happen, you expected that he’d ask you to go with him. Maybe not right away, but at least within a few weeks. Never in your life did you expect this; for him to treat you with such indifference. “We can still be friends (Y/N).”

“We’re not friends Jamie. Right now, I don’t know if we ever were.” With that, you grabbed your purse and left. He never called or texted, and neither did you. It was just too hard to think that he could so easily move on without you.

Current day… (January 2019)

The first few months without Jamie had been hard. You missed everything about him. The way he cuddled you, the way he would call during the day just to hear your voice, and the sex, ugh… It had been simply amazing and to go to nothing, well...it was horrendous. Though somehow you fought through everything and continued on with your life. Eventually, you started to move on, going out to the bars and dates every so often. And though it was hard, you tried to block out all thought of Jamie.

It was why you were hesitant to say yes when Aaron one of the Stars trainers asked you out. Eventually, he convinced you to say yes. He was sweet and kind, but you weren’t sure you could see yourself long-term with him. Still, you gave the relationship a chance, and when he asked you to attend a Stars event about two months into dating; you couldn’t say no.

The air was chilly that night, as it was the end of January, and Aaron had an arm wrapped around you, as you entered the building. He was all dressed up in a suit and tie, something that didn’t usually happen, and you truly appreciated how good he looked. “Did I mention how hot you look tonight, in that suit?”

A cute shade of pink stained his cheeks. “Thanks, I had to step up my game with you by my side.” He brought your hand to his and placed a chaste kiss on your knuckles. “You always look amazing, but tonight.” He held you at arm’s length to take in your appearance. “You’re absolutely gorgeous.” You’d chosen a short length white lace cocktail dress, with long sleeves and a low cut bodice. Its nude underlining gave the appearance that you were showing skin, but in actuality, you felt very covered up.

“Thanks, I was hoping you’d like this dress.” You were also hoping that it would help spice things up in the bedroom, for your relationship was severely lacking in that department.

“I more than like it, but I’m afraid so will half the guys on the team.”

“Oh stop.” Once you were finally inside, the conversation switched and soon you were laughing and joking with all those around you. Aaron stayed by your side when you first got there; his hand either entwined with yours or on the small of your back. You were in an in-depth conversation with Ben and Andrea Bishop when you felt someone’s eyes on you. Looking from side to side, it took you a moment before you saw him standing there off to the side, with some woman you’d never seen before. It was Jamie, your Jamie. Your first thought was, why the hell was he here? He belonged in Pittsburgh. He’d gone there over a year ago, there was no reason for him to be back in Dallas. You politely excused yourself and headed to the restroom to collect yourself.

The minute you walked into the empty hallway, you felt him following behind you. By the time you got to the restroom door, you thought you were safe; until he harshly whispered your name. “(Y/N).”

You swiveled on your heel, turning towards him. “Why are you here?”

“I got traded back.” That’s all he said nothing more.

“You’re fucking with me aren’t you? Like this is some kind of joke or something.”

“It’s no joke. I’m back playing for the Stars again.” There were a million butterflies in your stomach and they were all moving at once. What did this all mean? Then you remembered the woman standing beside him.

“So you’re what back in Dallas for a hot second and you’re with someone. Or was she actually worthy of moving here with you, unlike I was when you went to Pittsburgh.”

He took one long stride towards you and you took one back, feeling the wall press up against your back. “It’s not like that, but what about you? I saw you with Aaron when I left did you just move on with him or what?”

“Fuck you Jamie!” you fairly spat the words at him. “It killed me when you left. You didn’t call or text, nothing. It was like I was some speck of dirt in your life you wiped away and then kept going. So don’t try and put this shit on me.”

“Jesus, what did you want me to do?” He was inches from your face now, and you could feel his breath. “I got traded, it was my job to move.”

The fact that he still didn’t think about taking you with him, cut deep; though you didn’t want to tell him that. “Yeah well it’s obvious, you moved on in more ways than one.”

“The same way you have, I see.” You pursed your lips, the action drew his eyes to your mouth. You’d seen that look in his eyes before. It was needy and hungry and called out to you on the most basic of levels. Unconsciously, you bit your lower lip. It was a bad habit and one you knew drove Jamie wild. “Fuck (Y/N), you know what that does to me.”

Closing your eyes, you willed yourself to get your primal instincts under control. Just being this near to Jamie, turned you on. The heated sensations you were feeling in this moment, you hadn’t felt in over a year and you longed to have his hands on you again. But he was with someone else, somewhere your conscience reminded you were too. When you finally opened your eyes, his lips were less than an inch from yours. You struggled to get oxygen into your lungs, as your chest rose and fell. Somehow you found yourself saying, “We can’t.”

“Really?” His blue eye burrowed into yours. “Does he make you feel like this? I know you (Y/N), I know when your body wants something, and right now it’s screaming that it wants this.” He placed his large hand on your hip, as he pressed his body into yours. You could feel his hard length against you and immediately you grew damp with need. A small moan escaped you, and that was all Jamie needed. His mouth was on yours hot and hard, and you opened to him without thought. He took control of the kiss; it was everything that you remembered, only better. There was no seeking or searching for what you liked, for Jamie already knew.

A voice sounded down the hall, and you pulled back immediately from the kiss. The hallway was still blessedly empty and you thought you could escape everything that you wanted at that moment until Jamie opened the door and pushed you inside. “You’re not getting away so fast.” He locked the door then, barring out the rest of the world, before kissing you hard again. “Fuck I missed this.” He breathed out. They were the words that were echoing in your brain, but couldn’t give voice to, as he trailed his hand up your inner thigh. When he cupped your sex, you gasped for air as if it was the first time in your life someone had touched you there.

“So wet.” His fingers pushed your panties aside and slipped inside you. “You were always so wet for me.” It was true, you couldn’t deny that fact. Jamie’s touch, his words, hell, his presence alone could turn you on like no other. The fact that it still happened even after everything that had happened; you couldn’t quite comprehend and at the moment didn’t want to.

You needed to level the playing field, so you skated your hand down his chest to the front of his clothed cock. The hard length of him felt good as you palmed him through his suit pants. Quickly, you undid his belt and button, so that as you unzipped his pants you could snake your hand inside his boxers. Running your nail along the underside of his cock, feeling his familiar ridges. He sucked in a harsh breath at your touch. “Fuck (Y/N).” Before you knew what was happening, he pushed two of his fingers deep inside your pussy, while his thumb flicked over your clit.

“Oh god, Jamie.” You threw your head back as he started to pump in and out of you, while at the same time you stroked his length. His free hand started to scrunch up the side of your dress. Were you really going to fuck your ex-boyfriend in a bathroom? You tried to come to your senses, but every time reason would creep in, Jamie would hit that spot and make you weak again. “Jamie…I…”

“Shhh…baby, I know what you want.” He removed his drenched fingers from your dripping cunt then, pushing your dress up over your ass. In one swift move, he ripped your panties off your body. Your hands pushed his pants and boxers down, to pool around his knees. When you tried to turn around, for him to take you from behind; he stopped you. “No way, babe. I need to see your face when I make you cum.” He lifted you up and placed you on the edge of the sink. Dick in hand, he guided himself to your soaked pussy, wetting himself in your folds.

Hooking a leg around his waist, you urged him to enter you. He took his time, even though you didn’t have it; giving you just the head of his cock at first. Then he leaned his forehead against yours and kissed you. His tongue sweeping in and swallowing the moan you made as he filled you up. It felt like coming home, he fit so perfectly in you. Part of you wanted to weep with joy from finally being with him again, yet there were tears of sorrow as well, from everything that you’d lost with this man and you weren’t sure if you could ever get back. A lonesome tear slid down your face, but before you could get swept up in the emotion Jamie started to move.

His hips thrust into you and you bucked yours to meet him. Taking your other leg, he wrapped it around him and then lifted you up as he fucked into you. He spun you both around, then pushed you against the wall, as he thrust deeper into you. Your back arched into the hard surface with each thrust and you knew there would be bruises there in the morning, but right now you didn’t care. You had Jamie’s cock in you and that’s all that mattered. Finally, you had to break the kiss, as you panted for air, but with the rocking of both yours and Jamie’s hips, all that came out were moans of pleasure. They seemed to fuel Jamie on as he picked up speed. Your orgasm started to build from deep within you. Tiny little tremors started to quake inside you, and then Jamie thrust into you hitting that sweet spot and you were gone; moaning out his name, as your pussy quivered around him. He thrust one last time, pumping his cock deep into you as he spilled his seed; stifling his moan against your neck.

He held you against the wall a little longer as you both tried to reign in your breathing. Slowly reality started to set in. What the hell had you just done? You squirmed in his arms; he only held you tighter. “Jamie put me down.”

His head drew up from your shoulder, to look at you quizzically as if to say ‘why?’

“We shouldn’t have done this.” He slid out of you then and immediately you regretted the loss of him inside you. But you straightened your clothes the minute he set you back on the ground. It took a minute to regain your composure and by the time you looked back at Jamie, he’d looked as though nothing had happened, except for the frown on his face.

“Why (Y/N), tell me why we shouldn’t have just done this, as you put it.?”

“Because Jamie, you’re here with someone else, and so am I. Not to mention that we’re not…” you searched for the right words. “We’re not anything.”

“Do you love him?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” This wasn’t about you and Aaron, hell you weren’t exactly sure what it was about, but not that.

“Fuck (Y/N), it has everything to do with this.”

“The way I see it, you gave up any right to know my feelings on anyone when you left.” He went to say something and you held up your hand. “This isn’t the place for it. I need to go.” With that you walked out of the restroom, closing the door on Jamie, just as he had on you a year ago.

#Jamie Oleksiak #Why are you here #Jamie Oleksiak imagine #Jamie Oleksiak imagines #jamie benn smut #dallas stars imagine #dallas stars imagines #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #hockey fanfiction #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl fanfic #nhl smut

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tres-spades-hotel · 4 years ago

Note

I am not sure you are taking requests or not, but I got this idea and I really wished you could write something for it, 'about Eisuke falling in love with his secretary and make it a bit dramatic'. I know it may be a lot to ask but all your written works have been so beautiful, I just had to ask you. No problem if you couldn't do it :).

Hi there! I’m so glad you sent a request! Yes my requests are open, I only just realised that I haven’t put it anywhere on my blog that they are open... oops! Anyway, I’ve never written a secretary story before so this was definitely a challenge, thanks to @flatsuke and @leoamber66 for helping me find a solid plot to use. And thanks to @lin-ful for just being amazing! This story is 8000+ words so that’s why it took some time to get this to you. I hope this is what you wanted, if not I hope you at least appreciate the time and effort I took to writing this. Enjoy!

Keep Me By Your Side

They say patience is a fool’s game. Waiting for love will weigh your heart down heavily like an anchor in the ocean. But saying ‘I love you’ to Eisuke Ichinomiya will get you nowhere fast. What does he know about love? Kindness? Happiness?

He was young when he was made CEO of the Ichinomiya Group. He was even younger when he lost his mother to the scythe of death, when he lost his sister to a different, better, whole, and lovable family. When he lost his father to the mist of uncertainty. What could a man filled with emptiness from a traumatic childhood, know about love?

He’s arrogant but he’s suave. A businessman through and through. Ruthless and cunning. Intelligent and sarcastic. Sweet-toothed with hidden compassion. A passionate hater of peas. A wonderful smile when he is genuine. And believe me, I have only ever seen this smile once in my whole career.

He never gets drunk and he spends more time at his auctions than with women. No woman other than me has stayed longer than a night at his penthouse. No other woman knows that Eisuke prefers warm weather to cold. No other woman knows how he likes his coffee: sweet using three sugar cubes and milk. I still remember the first time I made him coffee.

‘It’s adequate.’

‘Really?!’

‘Do it again. It needs more milk.’

‘Okay!’

I remember when he told me about his life. I remember his touch when he wiped away dewy tears. Telling me that it was a long time ago. That he just wants the truth. Closure.

That’s why, as his secretary, I have to be there for him. Because Mr Ichinomiya, founder, and owner of the Tres Spades Hotels around the globe, the mastermind behind the black market auctions and my boss, has brought me down to my knees…

In love.

I am in love with Eisuke Ichinomiya.

I want to shout it out to the world.

Scream it at the top of my lungs as if his name is my breath.

But I can’t.

Because I am only his secretary.

‘Here’s your schedule for today. After lunch, you have a meeting with a potential investor for the new Tres Spades Restaurants. He wants to propose different menus and VIP arrangements plus staff requirements for the restaurant in Sydney, Australia.’ I hand Eisuke his tablet and a folder filled with paperwork.

‘Hm. And the auctions?’

‘All set. Baba is still looking for the specific item that you requested but we have plenty of other materials to sell tonight. Soryu has sent the invitations and Mamoru will get back to you about the increasing police activity here lately. And Ota… well he’s being Ota.’

‘Pfft, of course he is.’ Eisuke looks up at me.

‘And Luke?’

‘He nearly fondled my collarbones… again. But he is ready to proceed with the surgery this week.’

Eisuke narrows his eyes at me.

‘Tell Luke to come see me before then. And you know better than to visit Luke immediately after a surgery.’

I rub the back of my head nervously.

‘Well, you told me to see him right away so… I was just following orders.’ Eisuke sighs in response.

‘Oh! And Luke told me to tell you that he needs another x-ray of your collarbones.’

‘Why? I already gave him one a few months ago.’ The annoyance is written all over his features.

‘Because he left it in the other clinic in New York. Luke doesn’t have an x-ray here in Tokyo.’

He unconsciously pouts at his laptop screen.

‘Isn’t one enough?’

‘Apparently not…’ It takes everything in me not to stroke his head to comfort him.

‘What about your collarbones?’

‘When we got back, while you were still in London, Luke did a medical examination on me so he got an x-ray of mine.’

‘Remind me to ban him from using the x-ray machine.’ I reply with a giggle instead of words.

‘Vivian.’ He says with urgency.

I salute military style.

‘Yes sir!’

‘… You would make a clumsy soldier.’

‘Hey!’

‘If there’s nothing else, get me coffee and leave.’

I bow and attend to my duties. After giving Eisuke his coffee, I head down to the lobby to find Mr Kenzaki. The lobby is busy as always with staff running around attending to the whims of the guests. New guests checking in and old guests leaving satisfied by their stay. The Tres Spades never disappoints.

I spot Mr Kenzaki by the reception. I catch his eye and he walks towards me by the penthouse elevator.

‘Ah Vivian, is there something you need?’

‘Yes, the Boss will need the conference room after lunch. We will need it for a few hours.’

‘Of course, I will have it set up. Do you need the projector?’

I think for a moment.

‘I’m not entirely sure but set it up anyway. Better to have it on and not use it, than need it when it’s off.’

He smiles warmly at me.

‘I understand. I am glad to see that you have become a capable and worthy secretary to Mr Ichinomiya.’ I blush at his teasing words.

‘Thank you. But we both know that Boss would choose you over me any day of the week.’

‘Haha, I’m not quite sure he is that attached.’ I highly doubt that actually, but I don’t tell him that.

‘The guest is Mr Lance and he will be arriving in a few hours. Make sure the lobby is prepared. Boss and I will come down to greet him.’

‘Very well. Make sure to take breaks every now and again Vivian.’

‘Yes, I will.’ Mr Kenzaki has always been obedient and thoughtful. I admire his dedication to Eisuke and the others plus he was a huge help to me when I first started working at the Tres Spades. He’s almost like an uncle or a grandfather (I’m sorry Mr Kenzaki! I promise you’re still young!) to me and the others.

I return to the elevator, swipe my key card, press no. 51 and watch the metal doors close. Turning around, I watch the outside world grow smaller and smaller as the elevator pulls up. There was a time when I was bewildered by the sheer size of this hotel. Over 50 floors of suites and boutiques and shops and the auctions all bundled into one.

Funnily enough, I worked with Eisuke’s adopted father, Akira Ichinomiya before I came to work for Eisuke. Akira took me in when I was first starting out in business and he taught me the ropes. He introduced me to Eisuke a little after Akira retired and, although he retired, he still worked within the Ichinomiya Group to make things a little easier for Eisuke. We met a few times over the years before Akira decided to send me to Japan to work for Eisuke as his secretary instead. I was more than miffed to hear of his decision without consulting me, especially since we had gotten so close with each other. I lost my grandfather when I was young so Akira ended up filling in that void.

Akira assured me that Eisuke would teach me more about how the Ichinomiya Group runs and I couldn’t say more. With my salary increased and bags packed, I got into the private jet and waited to see my new boss.

Looking back, I think I put up a bit too much of a fuss because Eisuke became a wonderful teacher, and a great friend. He listened to me and my problems even though he never needed to.

‘I have to make sure that my employees are at their best. Physically and mentally. Hearing your small problems is nothing to the value you are as my secretary.’

His words back then bring a whole new meaning to me now. I hope he means them in the way that I think they mean. That he cares about me.

A vibration courses through me as my pager goes off. I pluck it out of my belt and answer it.

‘Hello?’

‘Vivian! Where are you? Come to the penthouse! I have something to show you!’ Baba’s excited voice reminds me of a child but I wait to see what he has in store.

‘Ta da!’ Baba’s jazz hands do nothing to appease the sight.

A large statue of Venus towers over us all as we gape at it.

‘How did you get it in here?’ I ask, bewildered.

‘That’s a secret.’

‘Did you break it in half?’ Ota asks next.

‘No! This is priceless!’

‘Then how did you bring it into the lounge?’ Soryu says.

‘That is also a secret!’

‘He used the helicopter and the window.’ Mamoru mumbles from the couch.

‘Oooooohhhhhh’ Ota and I say at the same time. Baba pouts in response.

‘Mamo! Don’t go giving away my secrets!’

‘That’s not my job. That’s Ayase‘s job.’

‘This isn’t what I asked for Baba.’ Eisuke glares at him after inspecting the statue.

‘Ah yes, well. The item belongs to a Mr Jason Taylor Lance. I believe his father is coming to the hotel today.’

‘He is.’ I say.

‘Fine, I’ll get it from him instead.’

‘What is this thing you’re looking for anyway Eisuke?’ Ota asks.

‘It’s a collection of gems found at a temple in Egypt. Rumours of the gems suggest that a whole manner of good things will happen to those who possess them. I figured they would go for a very high price at the auctions.’ Eisuke smirks.

‘They were unearthed a few years ago and have found their way to Japan.’ Eisuke explains. Baba sighs.

‘Well I need more time to find the exact location.’

‘Fine.’

‘Ota can you appraise the statue for me?’

‘Okay.’ He goes back to his room while I prepare coffee and tea. When he comes back, he puts on white rubber gloves and uses a magnifying glass around the statue. I check my emails, replying to some and deleting others when Ota quips:

‘It’s fake.’

‘WHAT! Are you sure!?’

‘Yeah. It was created with cheap materials. An amateur’s work.’ He says it in such a matter-of-fact tone that I don’t comprehend it for a moment.

‘You would never know just looking at it.’

‘Yeah but if you sell it then the person buying it would most likely be an art collector and they appraise everything.’ He sits down and takes out his phone.

‘Unlucky Baba. Just like your sex life.’

‘Hey!’

‘Baba take that thing out.’ Eisuke orders.

‘Alright, alright. Sor help me out.’

‘Why me?’ Soryu and Baba heave the statue out of the penthouse.

Eisuke and I have lunch and then we venture out to the lobby. Just as we exit the elevator, Mr Lance enters the hotel. He is a big man wearing a white suit and a silver chain around his neck. His bald head shines in the glow of the lights and I can hear his shoes squeak against the marbled floor. He spots us and smiles.

‘Mr Lance, I am glad you could make it.’ Eisuke plasters on his signature business smile, holds his hand out for a shake and I bow from beside him.

‘Eisuke, please call me Connor. If we are going to be business partners, we should at least start with first names.’ He wraps both Eisuke and I in a bear hug and I nearly gag from the heavy cologne smell. Mr Lance is overly-friendly and I can already tell that this meeting is going to be a long one.

When he lets us go, Eisuke straightens his suit.

‘Please follow me to the conference room.’ Eisuke walks away while I turn to Mr Lance.

‘Shall I carry your briefcase for you, sir?’ I ask politely.

‘Of course, please.’ He looks at me for a moment. During my time as Eisuke’s secretary, I have met many individuals who have looked at me in inappropriate ways but Eisuke is always there to make it clear my place by his side. Still, I always stand my ground. Even now, as Mr Lance studies my face when he suddenly gestures to the case on the floor and follows Eisuke.

I’m not sure what that look was on his face but something tells me that this meeting will twist horribly.

‘Of course the staff will be perfect in their presentation but I believe that…’

Mr Lance, despite his ‘we-should-use-first-names’ greeting, is actually quite the businessman. He and Eisuke have been discussing the chain of Tres Spade restaurants and how to profit the most without hindering their guest’s experience.

‘The Tres Spades always delivers in high quality standards. Our guests and what they desire are our top priority.’

‘I have no doubt. Reviews of your hotels are 100% which I completely agree with. But if we could…’

Although, they are at a stale-mate right now. Neither is willing to backdown which is making me nervous. Mr Lance is more insistent on getting his way and so is Eisuke.

‘Sir?’ I finally pipe up from my corner in the room.

‘Hm?’ Eisuke looks at me.

‘May I suggest something?’

‘I hope you do not mind.’ Eisuke says to the man opposite him.

‘Please, a second opinion is always valuable.’ Mr Lance says, nodding in my direction.

‘Well, I suggest that the guests are given a form to personally write down any changes they want or need to the menus. This way, waiters will be more efficient obtaining orders and will limit any commotion that may arise.’

‘Paper forms will get lost or damaged very quickly in a kitchen.’ Eisuke says.

‘Hm, electronic tablets? With the entire menu and a writing stylus or Bluetooth keyboard to use.’

‘The keyboard would be too bulky on a table for guests.’

‘Why not use both? Paper and technology alike. Reservations will need specifications on which apparition the guests would like to use. Spontaneous guests first arriving will be asked immediately before seating if they require the keyboard or stylus.’ Mr Lance suggests.

‘That would be agreeable for me.’ Eisuke says.

‘I also.’ Mr Lance responds.

I breath a quiet sigh of relief. Mr Lance looks at me again before turning to Eisuke.

‘Before I sign this contract, I would like to add something to this.’

‘Such as?’

‘You see, I have a son, who I assume is the same age as your secretary?’

I glance at Eisuke briefly before saying hesitantly, ‘I am 28 years old, sir.’

‘Ah perfect! I have a son who could use a woman like you by his side.’ At those words, both Eisuke and I look at each other. He glares at Mr Lance who does not seem to notice.

‘You are an impeccable woman. In just a few hours, I have seen your beauty, your perfect manners and now your incredible intelligence as a woman working in the business sector of society. I believe you would be a wonderful wife to my son and an even better daughter-in-law to my wife and I.’

‘What are you suggesting, Mr Lance?’ Eisuke could be a snake he spat out those words so viciously.

Mr Lance does not break eye contact with Eisuke. Actually, it seems as if he is not intimidated at all by Eisuke, which, despite his words, is impressive.

‘I will sign this contract. Only if your secretary agrees to marry my son.’

‘That is outrageous, as if I would agree to such a thing.’

‘I am not asking you, Mr Ichinomiya. I am asking her.’

There is so much tension in the air that I can see it. Literally. So if I don’t agree, Mr Lance will walk out of the project. But if I do… While there are other investors, Mr Lance has a large influence on the economy, just as much as Eisuke does. He’s too important to deny.

Maybe I should convince him to sign without the marriage?

‘If I may, Mr Lance, I am hardly worthy of being part of your family. I have no wealth which you would consider rich, neither do I have many connections or the reputation to be married into your family. The public and the media would, quite frankly, have a field day about this marriage which could result in backlash on your family and mine. Please, reconsider this.’ I think half way through, my reasoning became a plea.

‘My secretary has never met your son and neither have I. She has worked for me and my company for years. Her well-being is my responsibility.’

Mr Lance thinks over our arguments calmly, as if he has done this a hundred times to other employers and their employees.

‘Very well. Why don’t I have my son stay at the hotel for a week? They can get to know each other and when she agrees to the marriage, then I will sign the contract. Until then,’ he pushes the folder away, ‘I will not sign. This is final.’

He gets up, leaving his business card, and walks out whistling to himself.

* (EISUKE’S POV)

‘That bastard really believes that he can have whatever he wants just because I need him to invest in the project.’

‘Did he really ask you for Vivian’s hand in marriage?’

‘To his son?’

‘…..’ I don’t answer, I only glare at Baba and Ota who hide behind Vivian and Soryu.

Mr Lance has attempted something that I have never seen in my whole career. A marriage proposal during a business deal? Mixing his personal life with his work is extremely amateur for a man who has been in business for over 30 years.

‘That man’s head must have a few screws loose.’ Mamoru says in an exasperated tone.

‘So what did you say Vivian?’ Ota asks.

‘Well, I tried to tell him that I wouldn’t be a good match for his family but he wouldn’t listen to us. His son is going to be staying in the hotel and I have to attend to him.’ She says, clutching her tablet to her chest.

‘Eisuke, what is he planning?’ Soryu is right to be suspicious. Even I believe that there is something amiss here.

‘Soryu, Mamoru, find out everything you can about this man and the Lancer’s Group.’

‘Lancer’s Group?’

‘Mr Lance’s last name turned into-‘

‘A joke.’ Mamoru finishes her sentence. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Criminal records, illegal activity, anything. Baba see if you can find something in their estates. I want to know what they have in their possession.’

‘Uh, okay Boss…’

‘Ota I want to know what the public think about the Lance family.’

‘Sure.’

I get up from the couch and head to the stairs leading to my penthouse suite.

‘Eisuke, what about the auctions tonight?’

‘The IVC and the auctions will continue as usual. Vivian, coffee.’ I say before turning around and ascending the stairs. I hear Vivian’s high heels against the floor as she rushes to me.

As soon as I get inside, I sit at my office desk and begin researching. If the Lancer Group is as influential as the Ichinomiya Group, they will have more than a few skeletons in their closets. The smell of coffee fills the room as she makes my daily beverage. For a second, I suddenly imagine Vivian making coffee for someone else. Mr Jason Taylor Lance. With his hands on her hips and his lips at her neck, attempting to distract her from leaving. It disgusts me that another man besides me would have Vivian by his side.

I feel myself get up from my chair and wander to Vivian quickly. She pours milk and three sugar cubes into the mug. Her waist feels small in my hands. The hair on her head smells like argan oil. Vivian is actually a small woman, her head is just below my shoulders with high heels on. Her long dark hair is straight with a braided crown around the back of her head. She wears a black suit and a purple blouse plus I notice the thin platinum band around her right ring finger that I gave her when we first met.

I hear her gasp at my touch and she turns around in my arms. Her eyes are wide open with her eyebrows raised.

‘Eisuke?’

Eisuke. She usually says my name when we’re alone. When she’s in work mode, she calls me Boss, like Baba unfortunately, but I still remember how casually she said it the first time.

‘Eisuke, you’ve been working for hours. Take a break for a few minutes, please? What will I do if you faint from exhaustion?’

My hands cup her chubby face. Her trembling fingers hold onto my hands. The only man I see reflecting in her eyes, is me.

I can’t imagine being without Vivian.

Wait. What am I thinking? Or rather what am I doing?!

I let go of her face and turn to leave the room. Her short arms suddenly wrap around my waist as she desperately holds on.

‘Eisuke, I don’t want to leave you.’ Her whisper is enough for me.

But why do I care so much for her? Have I become attached to this woman? This woman who Akira introduced to me? The same shy, bubbly personality who has stuck by my side for more years than I can count? No one has survived as my secretary or assistant ever but Vivian has held on.

What am I feeling inside? This warmth in my chest?

The next day, we prepare for Mr Lance’s son’s appearance at the hotel. Jason Taylor is a famous model and fashion designer who is also known for his… drunk antics.

‘Soryu, make sure your men keep an eye on Taylor and Vivian while they are together. If he dares to make a move on her, I want them to intercept immediately.’

Soryu, sitting in the chair opposite my desk, rubs his head and sighs with exasperation.

‘Eisuke, my men are mobsters, not bodyguards.’

‘Soryu.’

‘I know, I know. I care about her too you know, we all do. She’s the only woman willing to stick by you and your peculiarities.’

‘….’

‘My men will watch out for her and will keep me and you updated on their activities.’

‘Good. Have you found anything incriminating?’

‘There is something. Apparently, the Lance’s have a secret operation in Brazil. It might be money laundering.’

‘Hm, have your men take it. If it is money laundering, the evidence will move the scales in my favour.’ We share a knowing look when Baba’s loud voice booms outside the office door.

‘Boss! He’s here! Come on out!’ I sigh and stand up.

‘Looks like His Highness is in your territory.’

‘We’ll see how long he can stay on his pedestal.’

Vivian meets us in the penthouse lounge. I gave her the morning off to mentally prepare herself for the work that she will have to do. She wears a different outfit that she wears for work which makes me feel better inside.

‘Hey Vivian, why are you wearing that?’ Ota asks. She looks down at her suit then to me.

‘Because I’m still working.’

‘But he’s going to be your fiancé, shouldn’t you greet him looking a little sexier or something appealing?’

‘If you’re so desperate for a fiancée, why don’t you go greet him?’ I spit out at Ota who frowns at me.

‘Baba, Eisuke’s being mean!’

‘You kind of deserved it Ota.’ Baba says.

‘Damn I’m tired. Can we get going now?’ Mamoru yawns.

‘Slacker.’ I hear Soryu mutter under his breath.

‘What you say!?’

‘That’s enough. Vivian.’ I turn to leave and hear Vivian follow. The others grumble along to see who has made an enemy out of me.

Just as the elevator doors open, we hear loud noises and women screaming. In the centre of all attention is JT Lance, a known critic, womaniser, drunkard and an exceptional model and designer. He was already at the top when he was born, but we’ll see how far down to the bottom he falls when I’m done with him.

He seems to be signing autographs on paper and magazines and on women’s bodies as well. Arms, hands, necks, chest, he’ll put his name anywhere. A typical celebrity. He wears a golden chain similar to his father and an open shirt revealing his body.

The lobby quietens down as I step out.

‘Oh, it’s the King!’

‘The King?’

‘Eisuke Ichinomiya?!’

The staff try to handle the guests as much as they can while I stride over to the man receiving his room key.

‘Mr Jason Taylor? It’s a pleasure to meet you.’ I smile at him and shake his hand.

‘Eisuke Ichinomiya, the pleasure is all mine! My dad says good things about you.’

‘Does he now?’ I highly doubt that considering our last encounter.

‘It’s a bit too crowded here to talk. Please follow me to the VIP lounge.’

‘Lead the way.’

In the lounge, JT sits making small talk with Ota and Baba while a female staff member serves drinks. I see her blush as JT winks at her from his spot on the couch.

‘Do you have any tips on how to attract women?’

‘Baba has trouble keeping a woman’s attention for more than a second.’ Ota quips.

‘Haha, the first thing a woman sees in a man is his fashion sense. And yours… is a little less than average.’

‘What?!’

‘You look a tomato with a head, hands and feet. You need to look more manly and dignified.’ He waves his arms around, looking a buffoon. Baba frowns, lost in thoughts.

‘I assume you wear that red… thing daily. Red is a passionate colour and bold to be worn in broad day light. But too much passion turns women off quicker than a light switch. A man should wear blues or purples, like Ota and Eisuke or that scary looking man over there.’ He points to Soryu whose face doesn’t change or move in the slightest.

‘… Um, even that man over there in the grey suit is more manly than you.’ He indicates at Mamoru who smokes at the window.

‘Hmmm, so I need to change my suit? But I love this suit…’ Baba mumbles to himself helplessly as Ota falls over laughing.

I feel Vivian fidget beside me as she gleans the man attempting to take her away from me. JT changes his focus to Vivian.

‘So, this woman is the secretary my dad told me about? What is your name? You are certainly a beautiful gem among the dirt. Have you tried modelling? I’m sure my designs would look stunning on you.’ His insult generates a glare but, like his father, he does not notice.

‘My name is Vivian Grier and I am certain that I am just an average looking woman, sir.’

‘Oh please, you would look divine! And call me JT, it would be plain weird if my future wife calls me so formally.’ I feel my eye twitch at his casual words.

‘She is not your wife yet.’

‘That will be her decision, will it not?’

The tension increases with each passing moment as we size each other up. But Vivian cuts it like a sword slashing in the air.

‘Um, JT why don’t I show you around the hotel? Then you can relax in your suite. I still have work to do unfortunately but we can have dinner tonight in the restaurant if you would like.’ Her suggestion does nothing to quell the fiery rage that is slowly growing inside me.

His smile sickens me to my core.

‘I would be delighted to have that. Ota why don’t you come as well, we can discuss some new designs I’ve created.’

‘Sure. Don’t worry, the old man beside me won’t be coming along.’

‘Hey!’ Baba shouts out as usual. The four of them leave but not before Vivian pats my shoulder and says,

‘I’ll back in the penthouse in a bit, try not to exhaust yourself too much before I arrive.' She smirks and winks at me before rushing to the others.

‘You’re going to do what!?’ The words I didn’t want to hear leave Vivian’s mouth so simply that I shout at her in front of the others in the lounge. She flinches but continues.

‘JT is going to check out of the hotel tomorrow, and I will go with him. I’m going to agree to the marriage and stay with his family at their mansion.’

I can only glare at her, trying to dispel the unshakable resolve in her eyes. But she doesn’t look away nor does she back down.

‘Why?’

‘You and I both know that there is something not quite right here. They’re hiding a corpse underneath all that fame and money and I’m going to find out what.’

‘…..’

‘I know you have been investigating. I’m sure you’ll find the evidence we need but do it before the wedding. I…. One day, I want it to be you and me at the alter Eisuke. Truly.’

My eyes widen. Is she confessing to me? Now?

‘Soryu? Can I take Ryosuke and Samejima with me? For protection and friends to accompany me?’

‘Of course, they will protect with their lives Vivian.’ He takes his phone out and leaves to prepare his puppy and shark.

Vivian turns to me.

‘Eisuke, if I find anything then I will send it to you. And I promise I’ll come back. Come back to you.’

Vivian stands in front of me as the strong woman I know she is. She’s doing what needs to be done.

‘Money laundering.’

‘Huh?’

‘We have evidence that the Lance family is money laundering. Find me something related to it or something else I can use.’ I say. We look at each other for a moment then she smiles at me.

‘Okay.’

‘Good luck Vivian. We’ll be here if you need us.’ Baba pats her shoulder.

‘Don’t get yourself killed.’ Ota says from the couch.

‘Kid, don’t go doing anything stupid now.’ Mamoru puffs on his cigarette.

‘Thank you guys. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.’ She smiles and bows to us before turning around.

‘And Eisuke?’

‘What?’

‘On JT’s phone, I saw a message. It said… the body is ready to be disposed.’

‘A body?’

‘Mamoru get on this.’

‘Murder, huh?’

‘Well, he gives lousy advice on fashion anyway.’ Baba says.

‘He was right about your fashion sense though.’ Ota retorts.

‘Kid, send me that message as soon as you can.’

‘I’ll try.’ Vivian’s heels stride out of the lounge. Strong and confident, she leaves with my heart.

The engagement is called on TV. Mr Lance announces the engagement and we watch as Vivian and JT exchange rings.

‘Such a tacky ring.’ I mumble to myself.

‘Hey, what’s that silver ring on her other finger?’ Ota points to the monitor.

‘Boss, didn’t you give that to her a few years ago?’

‘Obviously. I have more class than he does in style.’ I smirk. So even on TV, she continues to belong to me.

‘Eisuke, Inui and Samejima have dropped Vivian off at the hotel. She’ll be here in a few minutes.’

‘Good.’ My fingers hover over the pager’s call button. It has been confirmed that the wedding will take place tomorrow. JT has booked the ballroom for a party and invited me to attend.

‘So they recorded this and sent it to the media everywhere huh?’ Ota asks.

‘Yes. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 2 weeks since Vivian left us.’

‘She hasn’t left us. As if Eisuke would let the kid go, not with her skills.’ Mamoru, who for once is not asleep, teases me.

‘You’re not snoozing, has the station finally fired you?’ Soryu retorts.

‘Stop it. You all are too noisy.’ I order before Mamoru can fight back.

‘How are the preparations for JT’s party tonight?’

‘Going as well as I can hope. I’ve called the media here to capture JT’s antics on screen.’

‘Seriously? Does he know?’

‘Even if he does he’s not shy to the camera. Everyone knows his drunk habits. I’ve ordered for security to be ready to take action against him if he tries something.’

‘Ota, Mamoru and I will be there as well so you can count on us Boss!’ Baba says with as much enthusiasm as a balloon.

‘Why do I have to be there?!’

‘Because the alcohol is for free. I won’t have to buy you any tonight.’

‘Fine. I guess I’ll go.’ Mamoru grumbles to himself by the window.

‘Hook, line, and sinker. Point 1 to Baba.’ He tips his ridiculous hat and winks at Mamoru who pretends to gag on his cigarette.

‘Sir?’ Kenzaki enters the lounge with the woman I’ve been expecting to see since she left.

‘Miss Vivian has returned.’ His smile tells me that he has been missing Vivian as much as the rest of us.

‘Hey everyo-‘

‘VIVIAN!’

‘THANK GOD!’

‘GET US COFFEE PLEASE!’

Vivian jumps behind Kenzaki as the three men throw themselves at her. It is true that we’ve been miserable without her coffee. We have been living off of room service and Soryu’s tea.

‘I can’t believe you guys really missed me that much. I was gone for 2 weeks!’ She hands out the mugs and I sniff the coffee. It smells wonderful and for once, everyone is quiet in the lounge.

‘Would you like some Mr Kenzaki?’ Vivian asks.

‘No thank you, you can make me some another time. I have some work to do so I will leave you to it.’ He strokes her head like a father and leaves.

‘Vivian, upstairs.’ Still holding my mug and picking up Vivian’s bag, I climb the stairs with her in tow.

We sit beside each other when she looks up and smiles before taking out her tablet.

‘Even though I’ve been away, I’m still your secretary Eisuke. I’ve responded to all your emails and contacted everyone involved with the project. Mr Lance is going to sign the contract tomorrow after the wedding and-‘

‘Are you okay?’ I ask.

‘Hm, what?’

‘Did he do anything to you?’

‘No, not really. Despite the engagement, he hasn’t touched me. I thought he was seeing other women since he keeps going in and out of the mansion but I think it’s something else.’

‘Yes, the coordinates Soryu’s puppy sent is an office. It’s filled with counterfeit money.’ Vivian, Inui and Samejima were able to gain the site of Mr Lance’s operations from JT’s car’s automatic navigation system. The Ice Dragons stormed the place with Soryu and found over $200 million in cash.

‘What do you think it’s for?’

‘It could for a number of things Vivian. People have a way of finding things to buy when they millions to spare. Be it an object or a person.’

‘Did Mamoru find out about… the body?’

‘We’re still looking into it, but I have a hunch.’

‘Which is?’

‘You’ll see.’

‘No fair!’ Vivian pouts at me and I pinch her cheeks.

‘Oww!’ She says it in a more playful tone, letting me know that she’s happy.

‘You’ve gotten thinner since you left.’

‘I guess I was lonely without you Eisuke.’ She takes my hands and wraps my arms around her.

‘I missed you, so much.’ She hugs me tight, listening to my rapid heartbeat.

‘How have you been Eisuke?’

‘Fine. It’s not as if I need you by my side all the time.’ Who am I kidding? Her giggles tell me that she doesn’t believe my lies either.

‘But you will always miss my coffee right?’ Her teasing words make me chuckle.

‘Your coffee has done wonders for me. Even if you didn’t stay as my secretary, I would have made you the penthouse maid.’

‘Haha, I’m sure you would have.’ She raises her head and looks up at me through her long lashes. When did she become so beautiful?

‘Eisuke…’ When did her voice become so enticing when she says my name? And what would she sound like at night, beneath me with her head thrown back in pure bliss?

But before my lips can touch her skin…

‘Boss! Are you ready?’

‘Damn it, that thief always has awful timing.’ I grumble as we untangle our limbs from each other.

‘Don’t worry Eisuke. I’ll still be here when you get back.’ She takes my face into her hands and leaves a kiss on my forehead.

‘You know I will always be here.’ We lean our heads against each other, savouring the feelings that we hold dear. I’ve never felt love for a woman before. It’s not a bad feeling though.

* (VIVIAN’S POV)

I change into my casual clothing and go downstairs to find not only Soryu with Ryosuke and Samejima, but also Luke in the lounge. The TV has been set up for us to watch the party on mute.

‘Hey you guys.’ I sit on the couch next to Luke and see Eisuke, Ota, Baba, and Mamoru at the party, mostly drinking at the bar.

‘Hey princess.’ Ryosuke waves. Samejima and Soryu both give me a nod.

‘Hello Sexy Bones.’ I smile at Luke.

‘Why aren’t you down there Soryu?’ I ask.

‘Too many women.’

‘Oh I see.’ Soryu hates women with a passion. Eisuke was surprised when Soryu said he didn’t mind me being here. Apparently, I’m not the type of women he hates.

‘Where’s JT?’ I ask, trying to spot him on the monitors.

‘Over there, speaking to one of the politicians.’ Luke points to the far corner. For a while we wait and see what happens. Eisuke speaks to various celebrities, all with that sly smile on his face, while Mamoru drinks at the bar. Baba and Ota flirt with the other women at the party.

It all seems pretty calm when I see JT suddenly throw a glass of champagne at a wall.

‘Uh oh.’

‘What the!?’

‘He’s drunk.’ Luke observes.

JT seems to shouting at a staff member. One whom I know as my friend, Sakiko.

‘He’s going to hit her!’ I shout. JT’s large fist is balled up in the air, ready to hit its target when Eisuke grabs his arm and pins it back. He forces JT to the ground and Mamoru cuffs his wrists.

‘Oh thank god!’ I sigh with relief as Sakiko is attended to by the other staff members. Eisuke seems to be addressing the guests as Mamoru and security push JT off the premises.

‘The media will love this.’ I say.

‘Eisuke knew this would happen, that’s why he called them in the first place.’ Soryu says, turning his attention to clean his gun.

‘Mr Ichinomiya looked so cool! Just like you sir!’ Ryosuke says, looking at Soryu with admiration.

‘Indeed, Eisuke’s collarbones looked splendid.’ Luke smiles and Ryosuke gives me a look of bewilderment. I laugh despite the situation we just witnessed.

‘Eisuke did look really cool out there.’

‘Maybe you should make him the new Ice Dragon’s leader.’ Luke says.

‘No.’ Both Luke and I burst out laughing with Samejima trying to hide his smile and Ryosuke looking even more bewildered.

When Eisuke came back to the penthouse, I said good night to the others and followed him upstairs to his bedroom. I hugged him tightly as soon as we entered him room.

‘I saw on the monitors. Thank you for saving Sakiko.’ I nuzzle my face into his chest.

‘Hm.’ I feel the slight vibration course through his body.

‘Eisuke?’

‘What?’

‘Seeing JT be so… violent… made me think. Do you think sacrificing my freedom, despite knowing his flaws, despite knowing that there is always the possibility that he could become violent with me, that he could hurt me and cause me pain and trauma that I might never recover from, if marriage is about accepting the faults of the partner you love, should I accept his flaws no matter how abusive he could be?’

‘No. Because even the slightest possibility could destroy more than just your body, but your heart too. People like JT are not worth more than the dirt under our shoes.’

Suddenly, Eisuke dips down and hooks his arm under my knees.

‘Ah! Eisuke!’ Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, Eisuke throws me onto the bed and leans over me.

‘You’re still here though.’

‘I am.’

‘Are you going to leave?’ I look into his chocolate brown eyes. I can see my reflection in them so clearly. I feel my love for him bubbling up inside me.

‘Only if you force me to.’

‘Pfft, as if that would ever happen.’ His kiss is sweeter than any candy. It melts me at my core completely. That night, our hearts finally connect with one another. The moment that I have always wanted has been fulfilled. And before I pass out, I hear,

‘I promise, tomorrow, you will walk out as my woman. I will save you.’

Standing at the church doors, I breath in and out. Clutching a bouquet of hydrangeas, I think about last night. Eisuke promised that he would save me.

‘Go to the wedding tomorrow. I will be there and stop this madness.’

Akira comes up and turns me to face him.

‘Do not worry Vivian. Eisuke will give you a wedding surprise you won’t soon forget.’ His smile warms my heart. I asked him to come from London to walk me down the aisle. With my parents gone since I was a child, Akira is the closest thing I have to a father.

‘I know he will. I just hope he hurries up.’ I say. Akira holds out his elbow and my left hand gently clutches his suit. We hear the music begin and the large doors creak open.

With thousands of eyes on me, I look straight ahead just as Eisuke would. Ignore all the stares and look straight forward always no matter what. Cameras and flashes and whispers fill the room as I see JT smirk my way. The wedding dress wasn’t my choice. It was designed by JT and Ota together but it still isn’t the dress I imagined I would wear to my wedding. It’s a backless, pearl white lace dress with a ring of diamonds at my waist. My hair is in a loose bun and a thin hair band with small flowers rests atop my head. The dress trails at the back slightly and I feel it drag the fake flowers those sitting on the benches throw at us. In the corner of my eye, I see the bidders who wave at me. I smile inwardly, knowing that I’m in safe hands.

We finally make it to the priest and JT presses a light kiss to my hand. I gag inside as Akira leaves me to sit down.

The priest begins to speak the formalities and my mind drifts away. Eisuke said he would save me. So where is he? I’ve hoped for years that Eisuke would love me the way that I love him and now that I finally have it, we’ve become entangled in this mess.

‘If there is anyone who would object to this couple’s union, speak now or forever hold your peace.’

The doors behind us creak open once more. Everyone turns to see the silhouette of the man I love the most in this world.

‘I object.’

Eisuke walks forward as gasps and whispers fill the room. All cameras pointed at the King of Spades.

‘JT Lance has no business marrying her.’ He nods to the priest who takes out a remote and presses a button. A projector rises near the back of the church and a picture of a woman appears.

‘Oh that’s Miss Freya Opaline.’ Opaline was a great gem collector who mysteriously died when she tripped and fell into glass which pierced her heart.

‘Miss Opaline was not killed by what we believed was an accident.’ Eisuke’s strong voice echoes in the church.

‘JT and Opaline were both after the same set of gems that were unearthed in Egypt. Opaline got to them first so JT attempted to bribe her for them. When that didn’t work, he killed her and took the gems for himself.’ Moans and groans of the shocked public begin to rise.

‘The next few slides have secret messages between Mr Jason Taylor Lance and his associates who covered up the murder. Let’s also not forget about Mr Lance, who has been making counterfeit money for nearly a decade.’

‘Damn it.’ I hear JT whisper in defeat.

‘If there is anybody else who would like to object…’ As if on cue, Baba and Ota shout out.

‘I object!’ Everyone follows suit and I back away. Suddenly, Mamoru and the police walk in, arresting JT and Mr Lance. Before JT is taken away, I waltz up to him where he is handcuffed. I smile and throw the bouquet at his feet. The sound a slap resonates inside the building, rendering everyone silent. JT stares dumbfounded. Suddenly, I hear cheers for my performance and the police take JT away.

Eisuke comes up to me and I kiss him. I hear many screams and see white flashes behind my closed eyelids but I don’t care. He did it all and I helped him.

‘I love you Eisuke.’

‘I love you Vivian.’ He smiles genuinely and I fall in love again. We lean our foreheads together, knowing our love for each other is true.

‘It was nice of Mrs Lance to sign the contract on behalf of her ex-husband.’ I say.

‘Yes. Now that Miss Felicia is taking over, their business might finally have a chance of being good.’

‘But not as good as the Ichinomiya Group. Right?’ I laugh.

‘Obviously.’ Eisuke smirks at me when we hear a crack.

‘Okay, I think I got it.’ Ota says. The large statue of Venus stands before us once again… in pieces.

‘I guess you finally did something right for once Baba.’ Mamoru says.

‘Yeah! Wait what?!’

‘We were lucky that this was the statue that Miss Felicia was talking about. Who would have thought that Opaline and Felicia were such good childhood friends that Opaline gave the gems to her?’

The gems were never with Opaline to begin with. She sent them to JT’s mother as a way to rekindle their love for each other. Unfortunately, JT killed Opaline before she and Felicia could run away and start life anew. After her death, Felicia hid the gems inside the statue made by an amateur to prevent anyone from taking them.

‘The gems were the beginning of so much sorrow. Whatever stories there are, those gems hold nothing but pain.’

‘It’s a tragic love story but I think Felicia will be happy knowing that she has her own business to run and that her lover’s murderers are in prison.’

‘What I can’t believe is that Mr Lance wanted Vivian in order to blackmail you into selling the counterfeit money at the auctions.’

‘A stupid idea by a coward.’

‘Guys, I think I found it.’ Ota pulls out a golden box from the statue’s chest.

‘Is that it?’

‘Must be.’

‘Open it Eisuke!’

He takes the box and uses the key Felicia gave Eisuke. Inside is one gem, not multiple like the stories. A large diamond the size of a fist sparkles in the light.

‘Now this, will fetch a very good price.’ Eisuke smirks.

‘$20 million! $50 million! $100 million! Do I have any more bids?’

‘It’s going up.’

‘Of course it is.’

‘$150 million! $200 million!’

‘Wow.’

‘Honestly, these people are far too desperate for something good to happen to ‘em. As if a diamond can bring good fortune.’ Mamoru says.

‘$300 million! Any more!’

The diamond sits on a pedestal on top of a purple velvet cushion. I hug Eisuke’s arm and snuggle into his side as I feel him kiss the top of my head.

‘$500 million! Sold!’

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vventure · 5 years ago

Text

Liar - Atsumu Miya Must Die, Ch. 2

Series Mini Mlist: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Pairing: Atsumu Miya x fem!reader

Genre: Angst (only lightly this part), Fluff

Word Count: 1.4k

Warnings: cheating, small spoiler for post time-skip manga

Summary: Atsumu Miya is a player; dating three girls from three different friend groups so they don’t find out. What happens when they do, though? And how does [Y/N] play into their plan for ultimate revenge?

A/N: Apologies on this taking so long to come out. I hope you like this next part. You’ll get to meet Osamu, and it gives you a little insight into what’s to come in the next chapters. Atsumu’s character is kind of assassinated this chapter, sorry sjfddfkjk

Taglist: @for-ests @miyulovestowrite @letmeshouyou @babyboytsutomu @captain-shittykawa @writeiolite @lunarknox @heccingdead - let me know if you’d like to be added (or taken off)!!

Last Time:

“[Y/N]?” Ami’s voice drifted through the open door as she looked for you. “We’re gonna go get something to eat now, actually. Riku is hungry and I think I am too.”

She thinks she is? You rolled over and sat up to look at her.

“Y’know, Riku seems really nice. I don’t think you have to, like, change yourself for him or whatever you usually do for the guys you date,” you said while swinging your legs over the edge of the bed to stand.

Ami just rolled her eyes and rejoined Riku in the living room. You were fast on her heels, slipping out of your house shoes and putting on your sneakers.

“Alright!” Riku said with a smile. “Let’s go get onigiri!”

The walk to the onigiri shop from the apartment was short, but lovely. Tall buildings had the slim, asphalt street surrounded and the paved sidewalks were bustling with life. You passed by food stands and flower shops as well as manga cafes and bookstores, each location giving off a leisurely and homey vibe.

Ami and Riku walked hand-in-hand in front of you, Ami pointing to various locations with a whispered comment that only Riku could hear. They were making you the third wheel, but as long as you got a tasty meal out of it you could deal with them.

The bell on the door jingled brightly as Riku held it open for you and Ami, a satisfied smile gracing his face. A tall man with black ruffled hair who appeared to be around your age was reading a little from a newspaper when you walked in, but immediately dropped his leisure activity as he took in the new customers.

“Welcome to Onigiri Miya,” he spoke, a smile spreading easily across his face. “Good to see ya again, Riku!”

“Hey there, Osamu,” Riku responded with a small wave, striding across the length of floor between the front door and the counter where the guy stood. The guy Riku called Osamu produced three paper menus, passing them to your sister’s boyfriend.

“Who ya got with you? I’ve only ever seen you come alone,” Osamu queried, his eyebrow raised in genuine interest.

“Oh, this is my girlfriend Ami, and her sister [Y/N], they just moved down here. Ami is living with me and [Y/N] just transferred to the local university.”

“Pleasure to meet ya, Ami and [Y/N],” Osamu said, his eyes lingering on you. He spoke with a distinct accent that you found rather endearing. “By the way, Riku, do you know anyone that’s lookin’ for a job? I need to hire another assistant.”

“Hmm,” Riku said, gripping his chin. “Not off the top of my head, but I’ll ask around.”

“There’s a reason you’re my favorite customer.”

Riku stepped from the counter and gestured to one of the four-seater tables in the main area of the restaurant where the trio sat and peered at their menus.

“So, you come to this restaurant often?” Ami asked Riku, barely looking at her menu.

“Yeah, it opened a little while ago and I like supporting the small businesses in walking distance. Osamu is a good kid. He’s actually 21, just like you [Y/N].”

“This is a big responsibility for a 21-year-old to handle on their own,” Ami said, looking over her shoulder at the young man who was now making sure all of his various ingredients were in order.

“He has help,” Riku said, closing his menu and placing it onto the laminated surface of the small table. “He’s got Chika, who’s a little older than he is and helps with cooking and the books, and he also has his twin brother Atsumu. His brother is in college, though, maybe that’s why he needs new help.”

“You should apply, [Y/N],” Ami said, setting her menu on top of Riku’s. “It’d be nice for you to have a little extra money for booze and stuff.”

“Ami,” you whispered, narrowing your eyes at her. Yet again, your sister’s brain was acting on whims, and this time she was directing them at you.

“I’m not wrong.”

“It could be a good way for you to meet new people, it’s really close to campus so a lot of university students come here for a cheap meal,” Riku interjected.

“Booze money and friends!” Ami said, clapping her hands together. You rolled your eyes at the double-team assault on this matter, but they did have a point. Having extra cash in uni was helpful and it could expose you to a lot of people you’d never get the chance to meet normally.

“I guess you’re right, I’ll ask him,” you said with a huff. “What do you guys want to eat? I’ll order while I’m asking for an application.”

You swept the menus into your hand after taking their order down mentally and walked over to Osamu, handing him the small stack of pamphlets.

“What can I get ya?”

“Can we have two salmon and a minced chicken onigiri, please?”

“You got it,” he responded, writing it down on a little pad of paper. “Anything else?”

“Uh, yeah,” you said, smiling sheepishly. “Can I have an application?”

“I don’t really have a formal application, and I’m guessing you don’t have a resume on ya,” he said, giving you a little smile. You shrugged and showed him your empty hands in response. “Well, then lemme take down your number and I’ll give ya a call for an interview. You can bring your resume then.”

“Okay, cool,” you said, taking the pad of paper out of his hand and jotting down your digits.

“Your order number is 22, I’ll give you a shout when your food is ready.”

Osamu called you the next day to ask you to an interview. On the way out of the restaurant that night Riku had lagged behind, putting in a good word for you so that when you got to the interview with the young entrepreneur it was more of an orientation than anything else. He provided you with an apron and baseball cap and started in on teaching you how to make each of the onigiri on the menu.

It wasn’t expected that you’d know what you were doing right away, so in the following days he made sure to put you on the schedule with either he or Chika. This type of partnering saddled you with bussing tables and checking on customers while they were eating, which you were more than happy to do.

You got to know Osamu pretty well, but really bonded with Chika. She was older than you were, but she’d gone to university at the same school you’d be moving into at the end of the week. Her insights into the school--such as quirks about your dorm building’s location and what food was best--were invaluable and you were thankful that you’d gotten to spend so much time with her.

The week between moving to Hyogo and starting university flew by with your new job, as Osamu put you on the schedule almost daily to free himself up to do paperwork and budgeting for the flourishing establishment.

It was midday on the eve of moving into your dorm, and Onigiri Miya was quiet. Chika was playing on her cell phone as you read from the book you’d been trying to finish before school started when the chime on the door rang to announce the entrance of a customer.

You looked up from your position behind the counter with a smile, but had to do a double take when you examined who’d entered. The guy looked exactly like Osamu, but his hair was bleached blond and he had a girl dressed in a tight-fitting tracksuit attached to his hand.

“Hey, Atsumu,” Chika said, barely looking up from her phone to acknowledge him.

“What’s up,” the young man said with a wide smirk, pulling a chair out from one of the tables with two seats and offering it to his companion. “You know the usual, right?”

“Yep, coming up,” Chika said, putting her phone in the pocket of her apron and getting started on the food that he’d ordered without even saying what it was.

Atsumu--it sounded familiar to you, and you wracked your brain to find the solution to your confusion. He looked just like Osamu, hadn’t Riku mentioned a brother? One with that name?

“Who’s that?” You questioned Chika. She turned and gave you a small chuckle.

“That’s Atsumu, Osamu’s twin brother,” she replied, shaping the onigiri. “And one of his little friends.”

“Twin brother? One of?”

“Yeah, that’s why they look exactly alike, dumbass,” she said, elbowing your side playfully. “And you’ll see what I mean later today.”

You took another glance at the couple seated in the dining room. Atsumu had his hand over his date’s, his eyes fixated lovingly on her as she stared moonily back at him. They made a cute, sporty couple in your eyes.

That image of Atsumu’s infatuation with his obvious girlfriend quickly disappeared when he entered the restaurant for a second time that day, another woman on his arm but this one with a pastel, preppy style. Same order, same interactions between Atsumu and his companion.

“What the hell,” you murmured to Chika, grabbing at her sleeve and gesturing.

“Help me with this,” was all she said, dismissing your confusion.

The final straw came when Atsumu waltzed through the door for a third and final time that day, 45 minutes before closing. Yet another woman accompanied him, this one different from the last with an adorable teal dress and wedges. You didn’t question it while he was in the business this time, opting to wait until you and Chika were closing to grill her about the situation.

Stopping your sweeping, you called to Chika, her head popping out from the back room where the dishwasher was.

“I’m guessing you want your answer now,” she said, wiping her hands on a stained white towel before slinging it over her shoulder. “Sit.”

Chika laid down the facts: Atsumu was dating three different girls from three different friend groups. It was a secret to everyone but he and Chika, and now you, that he was doing this. Atsumu would only come to Onigiri Miya when Osamu wasn’t working.

He was somewhat of an idiot in that respect, and Osamu had caught him with different girls at the establishment before, but the bleached twin had played it off as him seeing different girls every week; something that wasn’t outside of the realm of possibility for the player.

Chika went on to explain that while Atsumu used to work at the onigiri shop for his brother, he had taken time off in order to focus on university and his club volleyball team at the school. He was arrogant and self-centered, and often lied to his brother even about small things. The picture Chika painted was far from flattering.

You sat looking at her during her spiel, your jaw basically on the floor.

“So, yeah,” she finished. “He’s kind of a mess and a jackass.”

“Thanks for the warning, I’ll try to avoid him.”

“About that,” her smile strained as she spoke her next words: “He’s moving into the same dorm as you tomorrow.”

#Haikyuu!!#Haikyu!!#hq!!#haikyuuwritersnet #Atsumu Miya #Miya Atsumu #tw: cheating #tw cheating

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alj4890 · 5 years ago

Text

A Second Chance

(Thomas Hunt x oc*Amanda)

A/N Weeks have gone by. The paternity results are in and Thomas has now taken Amanda to his attorney’s office to finish changing Kathleen’s last name to Hunt along with making her the heir to his fortune. He decides to take a chance and asks Amanda to go out to dinner. Just the two of them.

@lxaah11�� @alleksa16 @penguininapinktuxedo @blackcoffee85 @stopforamoment @hopefulmoonobject @krsnlove @annekebbphotography @hopelessromantic1352 . @sunflowergirl05 @desireepow-1986 @greywitchyshots @lilyofchoices @moodyvalentinestories @emceesynonymroll @my-heart-beats-for-ya @aworldoffandoms @ab1901 @flyawayboo @i-bloody-love-drake-walker . @trappedinfandoms @kate-mckenzie @cordoniaqueensworld @everythingmarvelsherlockspn

Masterlist

Catch up here with Chapter 5

Chapter 6

"And sign here." Myles pointed toward the necessary spaces.

Thomas finished signing his name then passed it to Amanda.

She signed under his name.

The attorney leaned back in his chair and explained the new will and trust Thomas had created for Kathleen.

Thomas half listened as he thought of what the last few weeks in California had been like. Having Kathleen and Amanda living in his home had been eye opening. Uninterrupted time with his daughter had strengthened the bond between them.

Once Kathleen had chosen her bedroom; he had removed all the furniture and taken her shopping. Amanda had gone along, smiling often at the two of them as they debated possible furniture and décor. He bought everything that Kathleen liked. He even strung twinkle lights across the ceiling, replaced the simple drapes with ruffled pink curtains, and bought a menagerie of stuffed animals to fill it with. Her first night with all her new things had been one of celebration.

She asked if the three of them could have dinner in there and then watch a movie.

Thomas never thought the day would come where he would be sitting in a pillow fort, eating Chinese takeout, and watching Tangled. Yet here he was loving every moment.

His gaze cut to Amanda as Myles handed her the paperwork with Thomas now legally Kathleen's father. Once the paternity test had come back revealing she was his, he had pushed his lawyer to get her last name and his will changed as quickly as possible.

Amanda had been supportive of his decision. Kathleen was thrilled that she now had his name and practiced writing it out on the little chalkboard he had bought her.

The only thing that could make this better for Thomas would be if Amanda's last name was also legally changed to his.

Living with her had shown him how deeply in love he was. When Kathleen went to bed at night, he would entice Amanda to remain with him to either watch a movie or go for a swim.

He used those moments to find out all he could about her without pushing her into a romantic relationship.

He wanted her. His desire for her had only grown stronger. He did not want one night with her. He wanted the rest of her life.

He wanted to marry her. Finally have her as his.

Finally have his family.

He suspected she might feel something for him. He would catch her looking at him, almost like she did all those years ago when they were dating.

Yet there was something else there in her eyes. Her smile was warmer each time he did something sweet for her or Kathleen.

She had become more relaxed around him. Amanda had stopped shying away from touching him. There had been a few times as they watched Kathleen playing or coloring that she would quietly slip her arm around his waist.

But he wanted more. These sweet in between moments could be the norm while they took the next step. He knew how affectionate she was when in love. Thomas intended to have it all for himself.

He just did not know how to broach the subject.

"And that's it." Myles said.

Thomas blinked and refocused. "Everything's set?"

"It is." He smiled at the two. "Ms. Hunt will have no financial worries." He glanced at his watch and apologized for having to rush out to another meeting. He told them to call if any other concerns came to mind.

Amanda reached across the table for Thomas's hand. He turned to her once Myles left the conference room.

"Thank you for this." She said, rubbing her thumb over the top of his hand. "It isn't the money, but knowing that in the eyes of the world, Kathleen is your daughter."

He gripped her hand. "I know you say that you don't need child support, but I would like to have a part in caring for her, paying for whatever she needs."

"I understand." She let go of his hand and stood up. "Shall we?"

He stood up and took her hand again as she passed by, tugging her close. Her eyebrow lifted in question.

"How would you like to go to dinner tonight?" He asked.

"My schedule is so busy," she teased, "I'm not sure if I can join you and Kathleen this evening."

He smiled. "I meant just us." He lowered his eyes to their clasped hands. "It's been a long time since you and I went out. I'm sure Rachel and Stephen will watch Kathleen."

Amanda laughed at the thought. When Thomas had told his sister about Kathleen being in his home, she and her husband Stephen had shown up that very night.

Unlike Holly and Addison, Rachel had understood why Amanda had kept Kathleen a secret from all of them that were close to Thomas.

"You were wise not to trust us to keep our mouths closed." Rachel said one night. "We all would have flayed him alive with our tempers." She then added that if they had been told though, the misunderstandings could have been rectified so much sooner.

She and Stephen immediately fell under Kathleen's spell. The little girl in turn adored the two that were her new relatives. They took her out every day for special aunt/uncle/niece time. In other words, they spoiled her every chance they got.

Holly and Addison, along with Matt and Ryan, also accepted the little girl as their own. They could hardly get over the fact that Thomas was not only a father but that he had eased into the role without any difficulty.

The four along with Rachel and Stephen watched the family of three closely, especially Thomas and Amanda. They knew how he had pined for years for the duchess. Now that the two had a reason to see each other on a regular basis, the group wanted to see them together as they should be: a couple.

"How about it?" Thomas repeated. "A night out without a children's menu?"

She laughed and shook her head at the menu joke. "That sounds nice."

"I'm taking that as a yes." He put his hand at her back and guided her toward the elevators. "I'll make the reservations and pick you up around seven."

"Pick me up?" She teased. "My, we really are going all out with this dinner."

Thomas couldn't quite contain his smile. "It isn't every night I get to have you to myself."

Amanda felt her heart triple in beat. Did he mean that in a romantic sense or a platonic one? He probably only wanted a night out as an adult and was merely offering her the same as a friendly gesture.

As much as she tried to deny it, she felt that old love for him stirring to life more and more as time went on. His obvious love and care for Kathleen touched her aching heart in ways she had not anticipated.

She loved seeing him so uncertain yet trying to make his home special for their daughter. Seeing him agree to every little whim Kathleen had, made her smile at the sheer sweetness.

Then the little things he did for Amanda made her fall even more in love. He remembered things from their past that astounded her. He surprised her one evening with her favorite meal from a local Mexican restaurant. He had all her favorite classic movies on hand, explaining to Kathleen how he had developed a new love of many of them due to her mother. He had restocked his pantry with her English Breakfast tea bags and brown sugar cubes. Every gesture chipped away at the wall she had erected around her heart.

Their conversations at night caused a longing in her that life could be like this. Being with him while their child was tucked safe and content in her bed, it was her old dream, the very one she had tried to forget.

How could she though when he was all that she had ever wanted?

**************

"Which do you think?" Thomas held up two blazers.

Kathleen tilted her head as she studied the navy blue and then the charcoal gray. She was sitting in the middle of his bed amid a variety of dress shirts. "I like that one." She pointed at the gray. "And I like this shirt." She held up the black.

"Perfect." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You have quite the eye for color coordination."

"I have two." She scrunched her shoulders with a giggle.

"I am very grateful for that." He replied with a smile. "Now then, anything else you can think of that I should do to make the night special for your mother?"

Kathleen propped her head on her hand as she thought. "Flowers. Mommy loved the ones you brought for my birthday."

"I can't believe I forgot about that." He muttered. He made a quick phone call and ordered a bouquet of tulips. "Anything else?"

Her little brow furrowed in thought. "Uncle Max said that she loves to dance but she doesn't do it anymore."

"Then I suppose it is up to me to remedy that." He wrote that idea down. "You have been a tremendous help."

Kathleen plucked at his bedspread. "Daddy?"

"Hmm?" He went into his closet to choose a tie.

"I'm a Hunt and you're a Hunt." She squirmed a little. "But Mommy's not."

He paused in his search. "No, she isn't." He saw the unhappiness on her little face and went to her. "What's wrong?"

"Mommy isn't part of the family." She whispered with a sniff.

He knelt beside his bed and took her hands in his. "Yes, she is."

"But she's still a Bridgerton." Kathleen pointed out. "Can't she be a Hunt too?"

"She can." He replied. "I plan on doing all I can to make her want to be one." He smoothed her hair out of her eyes. "It is up to her if and when she wants to change her last name."

Her eyes widened. “Are you going to marry her?”

Thomas didn’t know what to say. “Whatever your mother wants, I am going to do.” He held his daughter’s hands. “As soon as the moment is right, I will ask your mother to marry me.”

"So, we can be a family?" Kathleen asked excitedly.

"We are a family." He stressed once more. "We simply are one with two different last names at the moment." He picked her up and hugged her tight. "Why don't you go choose some movies to watch with Aunt Rachel and Uncle Stephen? I need to start getting ready."

"Okay." She hugged him once more then skipped out of his room.

***************

Stephen let out a low whistle when Thomas came downstairs.

He glared at his sister and brother-in-law when they let out a couple of catcalls. "Where's Kathleen?"

"In the kitchen with Amanda." Rachel grinned when he immediately went in that direction.

He paused in the kitchen doorway and watched the two.

Kathleen was sitting on the counter, giggling while Amanda spoke with a funny accent.

"These cookies are mine! No one else shall have them." Amanda pretended to sneak away with the tray she had removed from the oven.

"Mommy!" Kathleen gasped between her laughter.

Amanda turned around and brought them back over. Her own smile was bright at hearing her daughter's sweet laugh. "Be sure to share with Aunt Rachel and Uncle Stephen."

"I will." She promised. Kathleen looked up and called out to Thomas. "Do you want a cookie, Daddy?"

"No thank you." He joined them and helped lift Kathleen off the counter.

Amanda paused halfway in placing the cookies on a plate. Her eyes drifted down Thomas in his dark gray suit and black dress shirt. His tan skin and jet-black hair seemed even more noticeable...even more handsome. "You look nice."

He smiled softly as his eyes touched on her figure. "Thank you. I've always thought you looked beautiful in red."

Amanda nervously smoothed her short skirt. "Thank you."

She handed the plate to Kathleen and watched her carefully carry it into the living room.

Thomas stepped closer to Amanda. "I've been looking forward to tonight."

She finished wiping her hands while a smile played about her lips. "Oh?"

He nodded. "Are you ready to go?"

She looked down at herself. "I think so, unless you think I should wear something else?"

"You look perfect." He took her hand and pulled her along behind him.

Kathleen was snuggled between Rachel and Stephen on the couch. She waved goodbye to them while eating a cookie.

"Have a good time." Rachel told them as she walked them to the door. "And don't hurry home."

************

71Above, Los Angeles...

"I forgot how much attention you draw when out." Amanda teased when they were seated at their table.

He frowned slightly at the people whispering and pointing. "So did I. I don't know why they do so."

She chuckled and picked up her menu. "It couldn't have anything to do with your handsome looks or immense talent."

He shook his head in exasperation and turned his attention back to her. "Would you like to go somewhere else?"

"We can if you wish." She said. "I can ignore them."

His eyes touched on how she looked in the soft light reflected from L.A.'s skyline. He was not quite ready to abandon the romantic restaurant because of a few nosy patrons. "I can ignore them too."

Her smile was warm as she lowered her eyes.

Thomas set out to charm her. Every story, every bit of flirty teasing, every brush of his fingers against her hand; it all had one purpose. He wanted her to fall in love with him again.

Amanda's cheeks were a touch pink under his steady gaze. She would often lower her lashes while smiling with his flirting. He had forgotten how those mannerisms used to encourage his attempts in romancing her.

He began to feel confident in his efforts with her leaving her hand in his and the almost permanent smile on her face. Once dinner was over, he took her to the next planned part of their evening.

"Aren't we going home?" Amanda asked when he drove on into the city.

"Kathleen shared an observation with me." He answered. "I thought it was time to try again."

Amanda lifted an eyebrow at his attempt at being mysterious. "Care to share what that observation was?"

"I think I'd rather leave it a surprise." He chuckled when she groaned.

"I think you've forgotten how little I like surprises." She huffed while folding her arms.

"I haven't forgotten." He told her.

"Ah, so you've resorted to torture now on your evenings out." She shook her head in mock disappointment. "Shame on you, Mr. Hunt."

Thomas couldn't quite wipe the smile off his face at her teasing. It was reminiscent of how things once had been between them. He missed having that. She was one if not the only one that brought out that playful side of his personality.

"A night club?" Amanda said in disbelief when he parked the car. "This is what Kathleen suggested?"

"She merely shared that Maxwell had told her how much you loved to dance and that you haven't done so in a very long time." He explained.

Her brow furrowed with that observation. "I don't think I've been dancing since that trip you and I took to Cabo."

He paused as memories of that vacation came to mind. That was a month or two before they-- "Amanda? Was Kathleen conceived during that trip?"

Her eyes widened as she quickly did the math. "She must have been! We were there at the end of December and I had her in September."

He placed his arm around her waist. He remembered that trip well. It had been a series of one romantic moment after another. Knowing that Kathleen was created during such a time made it seem all the more significant.

"What are you thinking about?" Amanda asked when he remained silent.

Thomas lowered his eyes to her. "That night we spent on the yacht in Cabo."

She didn't know how to respond. That night was one that she had never been able to forget. It had been one of the most romantic of her life. One of the most passionate.

He pulled her closer to his side once they were in the club. The place was crowded, and music blared from the speakers. They both cringed from the strobe light and the vibrations from the bass.

Amanda rose on her toes to speak in his ear. "Let's get out of here."

He began to shake his head, determined to take her dancing.

She laced her fingers with his and pulled him out of the building.

"Amanda, I don't mind--"

"I think I've outgrown the club scene." She explained. Her smile was warm as she stepped closer, raising her hands to his crooked tie. "I prefer being out with you in places where I can actually hear what you say."

His lips curved softly. He set his hands on her waist as she worked on his tie, tempted to pull her flush to his body. "So do I." He took her hand and led her back to his car. "One more place to go that I think might make up for this."

"Thomas, there isn't any need to--" her breath caught when he placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her between him and the car. Amanda lifted her eyes to his, wondering what he was going to do. Hoping he might...she stopped thinking. "You have already given me a wonderful night out."

He leaned closer to her. "I want this night to be special."

She swallowed and tried to keep from focusing on his mouth. "It has been."

He stepped away from her and opened her door. "If you don't care for our last stop then I will take you home."

She almost reached out to pull him back to her. "Okay."

He smiled a touch proudly when he heard the slight intake of her breath once more. He got in on his side of the car and drove off.

A short time later they were walking along the docks.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with our remembering Cabo, would it?" She teased when they stood before his yacht.

"I actually had this planned before that memory was brought to mind." He helped her aboard and followed after her.

He opened the door to the main saloon.

Her lips parted in surprise. A bouquet of tulips sat beside a bottle of champagne resting in an ice bucket on a table near the couch. A glass covered tray was set on another end table holding various desserts.

"Someone is going to a great deal of trouble." She teased when soft music drifted through the surround sound speakers.

He pulled her into a slow dance. "This? No trouble at all."

She rested her cheek on his shoulder as he swayed with her to the beat. Amanda closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment to drop all the cautious barriers she had placed around her heart so that she could enjoy being in his arms once more.

Thomas set her other hand on his shoulder and wrapped both his arms around her. When she raised her head, their eyes met before lowering to the other's lips.

He waited on her to make the first move. He needed her to be the one to make the decision on giving him a second chance. He briefly closed his eyes when her fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck.

Their bodies were brushing against the other's as the tension built between the few inches that separated their parted lips.

She pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Thank you for taking me out." A self-depreciating smile formed. "I haven't had a night out on the town in a very long time."

"Thank you for accepting." He murmured, keeping his gaze on her mouth.

She tried to ignore the need to kiss him. Ignore the need to see if it was like it once had been. Feel that electric tingle across her skin.

She knew it was foolish to play with this type of fire. She had resolved to never again take a chance on love. Kathleen was to never suffer from her decisions.

Amanda had vowed to be single for the rest of her life the week after Kathleen's birth. She knew she could never have some man have a say in her daughter’s upbringing.

But Thomas was not some random man. He was the father of her child. He was innocent of all the previously thought wrongdoings.

He was here, right where she had once hoped he would be. Thomas was showing her the type of attention she had once craved so long ago.

What if she gave in to his wish and tried a romantic relationship again? What if it ended horribly?

What if it didn't?

She hesitated and lifted her eyes to his.

Thomas saw all her vulnerable uncertainty in the hazel depths. He knew he should stick to his plan and admit he was more in love with her than he had ever been once they were in Cordonia. He believed he needed her to see how he could fit into her life there as well as anywhere else.

But he did not think he could wait any longer.

"I'm in lo--" his phone rang.

He pulled it out of his coat’s interior pocket. "It's Rachel."

Amanda's eyes widened. "Kathleen? Do you think she's--"

Thomas quickly answered.

"We need you to come home." Stephen explained. "Kathleen became sick and has been crying for Amanda."

She snatched the phone out of Thomas's hand. "What happened?"

"She was fine, playing, then complained about her stomach hurting. Next thing we knew, she ran to the bathroom and threw up." Stephen's voice sounded strained. "She began to cry which caused her to throw up again."

"I'm on my way." Amanda swiftly left the saloon and hurried off the yacht.

Thomas chased after her. "Amanda, wait a mo--"

"I don't have a moment!" Amanda snapped. Her stiletto heel got stuck in one of the slits on the dock. Her foot came completely out of her shoe.

Thomas knelt and pried it loose, slipping it back on her foot. "Everything is going to be fine."

"My daughter is sick." Amanda said in a disapproving tone. "I shouldn't have gone out."

"She probably ate too many cookies." Thomas tried to make her see reason.

"I don't care what caused it." Amanda cursed when she stumbled over another plank.

Thomas caught her before she hit the dock and pulled her close. He gently tilted her chin up. "I will get us home as fast as I can."

Her frown eased. "Thank you." She held onto his arm as they made their way off the dock.

***************

Amanda hurried upstairs as Rachel told all that had happened.

"I gave her another bath." Rachel followed closely at her heels. "She threw up all over her pajamas when she started crying."

"Poor angel." Amanda mumbled. She stepped into Kathleen's bedroom and went straight to her bed.

"Mommy." Kathleen reached out for her.

Amanda sat down beside her and held her close. "Shh, it's okay." She gently rubbed her back. "I'm here." She thanked Rachel for taking care of her.

Thomas paused in the doorway as his sister left the room. "Is there anything I can do?"

"She will need some electrolytes. Anything like Gatorade or Pedialyte." Amanda replied. "And possibly some popsicles."

“Orange.” Kathleen mumbled as she curled up in her mother’s lap. “I only like orange ones to drink.”

“Orange electrolytes and cherry popsicles.” Amanda told him.

“I’ll take care of it.” Thomas promised. He quickly left the room and told his sister where he was going.

“We’ll go for you.” Stephen offered. “That way you can help if Amanda needs anything.”

Thomas thanked them. He wrote down what Kathleen liked and gave them money. They ignored his money and took the list, leaving him uncertain with what he should do now.

************

Once he was gone, Amanda settled Kathleen back in her bed. She remained sitting beside her daughter with her back to the headboard.

Kathleen moved her head to Amanda's lap. "Will you sing the song?"

Her mother's lips curved softly as she gently ran her fingers through Kathleen's hair. "Of course."

Thomas paused in the hallway when he heard Amanda singing. He recalled that she was not known by friends and loved ones for having a good singing voice. But something about this particular song and the way she kept her voice low seemed soothing. He quietly approached the bedroom and watched the two.

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky

Stormy weather

Since my gal and I ain't together

Keeps raining all the time

Life is bare. Gloom and misery everywhere

Stormy weather

Just can't get my poor self together

I'm weary all the time, the time

So weary all the time

Kathleen had a smile on her face as her eyes drooped closed. Her favorite part of the song was coming up.

When she went away the blues walked in and met me

If she stays away, that old rockin' chair gonna get me

All I do is pray the Lord above will let me

Walk in the sun once more,

Can't go on, everything is gone

Stormy weather

Since my gal and I ain't together

Keeps rainin' all the time

Kathleen yawned and snuggled closer. Thomas stepped in when Amanda paused in singing. He quietly told her that Rachel and Stephen went shopping for them. He then went into Kathleen’s bathroom and retrieved a cool, damp rag when Amanda asked him to get one.

She gently placed the rag on Kathleen's forehead, still humming Stormy Weather.

Thomas sat down in a padded rocker, observing the two.

Amanda carefully moved Kathleen to her pillow once she was asleep.

He followed her out of the bedroom and across the hallway to her room. "Is there anything else we need to do?"

"I'm going to change clothes and sit up with her for a few more hours." Amanda explained, stepping inside her room. She hesitated then looked up at him. "Feel free to get some rest. I'm used to doing this on my own whenever she is ill."

His lips firmed in a slight frown when she gathered some comfortable clothes and went into the bathroom to change. He loosened his tie and went to his own bedroom.

Amanda returned to Kathleen's room and rewet the rag, placing it back on her head.

She sat down once more on the bed and hummed when Kathleen moved restlessly and whimpered.

Thomas returned in a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt. He took his spot in the rocker once more.

"You don't have to be here." Amanda whispered, surprised to see him again.

"Yes, I do." He whispered back. "I have to be here for you." He paused. "Both of you."

She lowered her eyes and resumed gently running her fingers through her daughter's hair in soothing repetitions.

"Why Stormy Weather?" He asked softly.

Amanda's lips turned up in a smile. "I listened to Frank Sinatra albums throughout most of my pregnancy. One night, a month after Kathleen's birth, she cried for hours, fighting sleep. I tried everything to calm her down. Eventually, pacing and singing his rendition of Stormy Weather helped her fall asleep. It worked each time after that, and she now claims it as the song. She usually likes it sung whenever she is sick."

Thomas softly chuckled. "She would appreciate the classics."

Amanda nodded, laughing. "She loves his singing."

His smile was tender. "She got that from you. If I remember correctly, you once said you would have had a hard time not melting if you had been one of the women in the movies he sung to."

Amanda shook her head at her own foolishness. "I was born in the wrong time period."

He stood up and stretched. "Let's sit over there." He whispered when he noticed her shift, trying to get comfortable on the small bed.

Amanda followed him over to the loveseat that Kathleen had chosen for her movie corner in her room. They sat down and remained quiet as they watched Kathleen sleep.

He set his arm along the back of the couch and urged Amanda closer. She glanced down when his other hand held hers and felt that old stirring of memories. There had been a number of times when she was taking care of Kathleen that she had wished he had been there comforting her as she worried over every little thing.

She rested her head against his shoulder, feeling a calmness come over her just by having him by her side.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, letting them linger there.

After an hour, she fell asleep, turning more in his arms. He repositioned her and held her close. Thomas covered the two of them with one of the fuzzy blankets that was nearby.

He lowered his head to kiss the top of hers once more. He closed his eyes, feeling grateful to have her in his arms again. Though it wasn't quite how he had wished the night would end, Thomas hoped it would lead to an even closer relationship with Amanda.

#Thomas Hunt #thomas hunt x oc #thomas hunt x amanda #choices thomas hunt #a second chance #choices RCD

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paxohana · 5 years ago

Text

Menagerie, Pt. 7

The weekend had passed at a snail’s pace, but none slower than that day. Viktor’s father insisted he spent the majority of the day at the factory. The day was filled with tediously boring meetings, placating the union’s grievances, and touring the factory floor. While Viktor liked to mingle with the employees, he wanted the day to be over.

The night would be filled with time spent with Yuuri.

The young man had visited Viktor’s dreams countless times throughout the week, and while Viktor welcomed them, he hoped that most of them would come true. He longed to touch Yuuri even if it was a gentle touch, he desperately wanted to indulge in the taste that was Yuuri through a kiss. He knew he was overreacting and wondered if they would ever have a chance at more, but knew they wouldn’t unless the stars aligned on some deserted island. A man could wish, he thought.

When the steam whistle sounded, marking the end of the day, Viktor grabbed his light jacket and raced toward the door. He only planned on spending a brief time at home changing and freshening up before heading to the restaurant for dinner with Yuuri. He was so looking forward to it that he barely missed mowing Clare over.

“Out already, Mr. Viktor?” she questioned.

“Yep, I have dinner with Yuuri tonight,” Viktor answered.

He had told Clare about their day in the slums and the evening under the willow tree. He relayed everything they chatted about and even the slight kiss to Yuuri’s forehead. While Viktor thought he had overstepped his bounds, Clare thought that Yuuri might be welcome to the sweet gesture. He hadn’t shoved him away, after all.

“Have a wonderful time, Viktor,” Clare said, smiling sweetly at him.

With a kiss to her cheek and a heartfelt hug, Viktor was on his way.

***

Yuuri, on the other hand, couldn’t believe how quickly the day had passed and he was thankful for it. His father had given him a day off when Yuuri couldn’t figure out how to post a certain account’s books correctly. While it frustrated Yuuri to no end, he was glad he wouldn’t be high-strung that evening.

That evening he would be spending hours with Viktor.

The faint thrill raced through his body, the familiar feeling each time he thought of Viktor. Yuuri had spent countless hours lying in bed or sitting on his balcony thinking of the man who caught his fancy. He knew he shouldn’t entertain such thoughts, but Yuuri couldn’t help it. He was the most intriguing, selfless, and gorgeous person he had ever met in his life thus far, and Yuuri didn’t think anyone could surpass Viktor.

Yuuri passed the time by reading a book he’d been meaning to finish. He was too restless to finish the novel and went outside to stroll through his mother’s impressive garden. All of her favorite flowers were in bloom, so Yuuri decided to pick a bouquet for her since he knew she wouldn’t have time to. Ambling from plant to bush, Yuuri had an armful of flowers by the time he finished. He decided it was enough and headed for their expansive kitchen. Hiroko wasn’t home that afternoon, so Yuuri hastily arranged the flowers and placed them in a vase. He knew that his mother would be pleasantly surprised when she returned home.

When the sun began its slow descent from the sky, Yuuri knew it was time to get ready. He wanted to look sharp that night, so he had to decide upon something quickly lest he be tardy. Flying through the outfits in his walk-in closet, Yuuri didn’t hear Mari come in. After hitting her in the face with a shirt and her subsequent yell, Yuuri spun around on his heel and apologized to her sister. Yuuri offered an explanation of why he was a nervous wreck, and Mari insisted on helping him find the perfect outfit. Yuuri was relieved his sister helped him, choosing a cream long-sleeved shirt and a pair of cotton trousers. He wanted to wear his straw hat, but Mari refused, saying it made the outfit look childish. Yuuri reluctantly agreed.

He dressed in record time and flew down the steps. His mother had returned home and just finished setting the table when Yuuri went into the dining room and gave her a hug goodbye.

“Where are you off to, son?” she asked.

“I’m having dinner with Viktor tonight,” Yuuri replied, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”

“Have a fun time, dear,” Hiroko said, returning the hug and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“I will, Mom,” he said, grinning at her, “I will.”

***

They arrived within minutes of each other. Yuuri was waiting near a well-manicured hedge and grinned broadly when he saw Viktor. Extending a hand in greeting, Yuuri felt a pleasant feeling run through him, growing stronger when Viktor clasped Yuuri’s hand with both of his.

“How has the remainder of your week been, Yuuri?” Viktor asked after the greetings were out of the way.

“It’s been good, but nothing as remarkable as tonight,” Yuuri said truthfully.

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Viktor said, “Ready to go inside?”

Upon Yuuri’s nod, Viktor opened the door for him and placed his hand on the small of Yuuri’s back, guiding him toward the maitre’d stand. When he realized what he had done, his hand flew back as if he was touching fire. He looked around their surroundings, but no one had noticed his faux pas.

Sighing a breath of relief, Viktor chatted with Yuuri until the maitre’d seated them. They thanked the gentleman for the glasses of lemon water before perusing the menu. Yuuri had only eaten at the establishment once and asked Viktor what he normally chose. When Viktor mentioned the prime rib, Yuuri thought it sounded mouthwatering. He decided upon that while Viktor mentioned he’d like to try the salmon dish. They placed their orders when the server arrived and Viktor ordered a bottle of wine, his knowledge of the beverage impressing Yuuri immensely.

“So,” Viktor began, resisting the urge to take Yuuri’s hand in his own, “What do you think?”

“This?” Yuuri started, “This is amazing. I’ve only been here once, but it was a business lunch with one of my father’s clients. I didn’t really get to enjoy the occasion.”

“Then we must visit here more often,” Viktor stated.

“Oh no, I couldn’t! It’s so expensive here,” Yuuri objected.

“Then it shall be a treat. Allow me a small whim, my sweet Yuuri,” Viktor said, his fingers brushing against Yuuri’s knuckles before placing his hand in his lap.

Viktor loved the way the blush crept up Yuuri’s neck and rested upon his cheeks. He had learned through the day that they spent at the slums that Yuuri was easily embarrassed and didn’t take compliments easily. Viktor had an inkling that Yuuri didn’t react well to terms of endearment either.

“I’m...um...I’m not used to someone referring to me in such a favorable manner,” Yuuri said.

“Why not is beyond me,” Viktor said, “You should have all the pleasantries and sweet endearments showered upon you every day of your life.”

Yuuri gave him an embarrassed smile which Viktor thought precious. He returned the smile, it growing broader when he saw the twinkling in Yuuri’s eyes. Only interrupted when their meals arrived, they set about eating.

“Mmm,” Yuuri said after swallowing the first bite of prime rib, “This is decadent.”

“It’s amazing, that’s for sure,” Viktor said, “Would you like to try a bite of my calamari? It melts in your mouth.”

Yuuri nodded and tried to take the fork from Viktor’s hand, but Viktor held onto it firmly. Stabbing a piece of the fish with the utensil, Viktor raised his hand and offered the calamari to him. Yuuri’s eyes never left Viktor’s while he took the bite, his eyes closing while he was chewing.

“How can any place make meals so luscious?” Yuuri asked, smirking when Viktor laughed.

“Their chef is from France. I’ve heard that he is one of the best in the world, Viktor declared.

“Quite impressive.”

They returned to their meals, chatting and sipping on their wine. When they finished, Viktor asked Yuuri if he’d like to partake in dessert, but Yuuri was too full. They made plans to visit again in the near future, though Yuuri made Viktor promise to let him pay that time.

They wandered around town talking about every subject under the sun. They chatted about the presidential elections and how the man voted in would ruin the country. Their conversation then went to the most prominent’s daughter having a child out of wedlock. They felt bad for the young woman since she was the talk of the town. Yuuri was more concerned that the baby had breathing problems after she had him, knowing that information since his mother helped with the birth. He also mentioned the small wooden car he’d brought to the baby’s mother for when he grew a little more. The woman had tears in her eyes from Yuuri’s kindness.

They found themselves at the willow tree again. Yuuri was hesitant to sit since the dew had fallen and Viktor was wearing linen pants. When Viktor sat on the ground without thinking, however, Yuuri followed suit and laid back onto the soft, dew-kissed grass.

“Copper for your thoughts,” Viktor said softly.

“I was thinking about how much I enjoyed tonight. This has to be one of the best days of my life,” Yuuri admitted.

“I’m so happy you feel that way,” Viktor said, smiling at him.

Laying in silence as they listened to the spring frogs sing their nighttime song, Viktor and Yuuri simply enjoyed the other’s company. It was growing late though, and Viktor needed to wake early the next morning.

“I have to return home shortly,” Viktor said.

“As do I. My father has a busy day planned for me tomorrow,” Yuuri said.

Viktor sat up and nodded. Yuuri followed and stood up, brushing the grass off his backside. Viktor noticed and felt his temperature increase. He found every single action that Yuuri did amazingly attractive, and he wanted it for himself alone.

“Would you like to go to the play that’s performing at the theater on Sunday?” Yuuri questioned, “My parents have an extra ticket.”

“I’d love to.”

Stepping closer to Yuuri, Viktor placed his hands on Yuuri’s shoulders before embracing him. Yuuri’s breath hitched as he felt himself lost in Viktor’s embrace. Feeling his body come to life, Yuuri held his breath and wrapped his arms around Viktor. Hugging him tighter, Yuuri felt lost when Viktor released him.

“Until Saturday, my sweet Yuuri,” Viktor said, squeezing his shoulders once before leaving.

Yuuri was on cloud nine, he had ascended to the heavens. The electricity that had rushed through his body when he felt Viktor’s body against his own hadn’t abated, and Yuuri wished it would last forever. Feeling ever so hopeful, Yuuri glanced at the moon and made a wish.

“Please allow Viktor and I something more,” he whispered into the still night air.

Closing his eyes tightly, he wanted the wish to come true more than anything in the world. Knowing he had to go home, Yuuri turned around and descended the hill, his heart forever hopeful.

Talented artwork done by the amazing @princessmimoza ! Need to catch up? Check out Menagerie on Ao3!

#menagerie update #princessmimoza #pax writes #victuuri fic #viktuuri fic #yuri on ice fics #yuri on ice art

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doroyamz · 4 years ago

Text

Love in Accra

The road looked like it was sweating.

Rain. Heavy rain. The rush hour traffic on the 37 Military Hospital Road had come to a standstill. The downpour, from nowhere, was a welcome distraction for Tony. Last night’s encounter with his wife, Alicia, still all too fresh in his mind.

Cars were barely moving along on in the ever-rising storm.

He felt a movement on his right thigh but was too preoccupied with his thoughts to give it any attention. Esi by this time was growing restless, tired of Tony’s now constant rebuffing of her advances. Last night, and for many nights in the past month, he was totally limp when she unzipped him, a far cry from the throbbing pistol that had thrilled her to no end when they first began their countless rendezvous.

In those early days, they were lust personified. Crazed and addicted to each other beyond reason. Their constant need to feel each other’s skin had a near cataclysmic pull on them and their respective worlds. Alicia got pregnant in those early days, an event Tony privately regarded as a spillover from being with his now long-standing mistress. Esi’s marriage was virtually in the gutter. She often showed up at home disheveled and night after night, retired to her marriage bed wearing a satisfying post-coital daze on her face. Her husband, would just watch her. Mute and completely emasculated.

But now her once insatiable incubus was limp to her touch. She could not understand it.

xxx

Alicia had found the video on his phone.

Tony’s entire world came to a screeching halt. His throat was so dry, he wasn’t sure if he had one anymore. He stood paralyzed; the phone screen thrust in his face. Cocked his head at an angle as if in disbelief at the two actors in the tiny screen.

The man in the screen was bald, tall and dark and looked very much like him. He stood at about 6”3 with an NBA player’s build and had the beard to match. The male actor was indubitably approaching climax and his voluptuous female understudy, on cue, fiercely gripped onto dear life – which in that moment, was her male lead.

The ochre-skinned woman in the screen was of the finest fettle. Folasade was a full-blooded Nigerian but her unapologetic curves screamed South Africa. She looked like a Marvel comic heroine brought to life.

Fola and Tony met at a seminar for West African business executives at the Kempinski Hotel, a few months after his wedding. Fola was leading a breakout panel session which Tony sat in on, intoxicated by her form and presence. The two had exchanged steamy glances all day long, making no attempt to restrain their mutual intentions for each other when the conference ended.

Tony could never get enough of Fola and in Tony, Fola had found a man who could satisfy her every whim. They could go for months on end without so much as a text message to each other. But whenever contact was made, their respective schedules were cleared until further notice. They were fully aware that their combined desire was a vast black hole with the potential to consume them, so they took conscious steps to maintain some modicum of balance in their meeting arrangements.

The night the fated video was shot, Fola was headed for a month-long business trip in Morocco. They had arranged to meet at her private office on Volta Street in the Airport Residential Area.

Fola’s suggestion to record themselves as a temporary parting memento was inexplicable to Tony. Her claim that it would be something that would hold her while she was away, seemed puzzling to him. Her feigned desperation, even more perplexing.

Tony was completely against the idea of recording their liaison. Remonstrating over and over again about how technology and affairs of love should never cross. Fola ogled him for a while, offered tiny chuckles as he groped her every now and then during his rant.

Tony became so engrossed in his personal deliberations that he missed her slip into the bathroom. When he finally took a moment to break from his monologue, he was out of breath and had worked up a sweat. The man felt he just needed to wash away all traces of that unholy proposal.

Once on the other side of the bathroom door, Tony became Pavlov’s Dog.

That was over a year ago and Fola still hadn’t returned from her trip.

His mind slowly drifted back to the screen. The soft moans and cries. The sound of skin on skin rhythmically playing from the Samsung phone speakers.

He didn’t feel shame. He didn’t feel regret. He heard Alicia’s cries, felt her pain slide across his skin. He just stood there. Numb.

xxx

“We have asked around about Tony…Alicia…for your sake, for your parents’ sake, for all our sakes…please…do not marry this man.”

One of the many admonitions Alicia fielded from her aunts and cousins after announcing Tony’s marriage proposal at her younger sister’s festive birthday party.

In the ensuing weeks after her announcement, the family matriarchs conducted an extensive background check to gather as much intel as they could on her suitor. From what Alicia’s mum told her the matriarchs searched far and wide, even unearthing some very unsavory stories about Tony’s maternal grandfather in Mampong, a township in the Ashanti region.

The women came back with a most damning report on Alicia’s debonair Asante. Alicia, however, was defiant and unmoved by their findings.

She stood up to address the mini-assembly.

“Each woman here knows how highly I value them. You have all shaped me, guided me and helped me become the woman I am today,” she said in a restrained voice.

“But with all respect, none of you know Tony like I do. You don’t know what I see in him, his potential. The depths of emotion I have felt in the time I’ve gotten to know him. None of you can know that. He’s not perfect, Lord I know he’s far from it, but I know he’s the one for me. Nothing you say or do can make me feel differently.”

She loved Tony deeply. She had never believed she was capable of loving a man, let alone marrying one, after all the damage she had seen men wreak in and around her life. And Tony had flaws, many serious ones, but he had a certain light to him and he had showed her honesty and a vulnerability she had never known men to possess.

Deep down, she believed she could change him, iron out his weaknesses and over time drive out his especially troubling womanizing habit. She knew he liked women and on countless occasions, with her own eyes, she noticed the magnetizing effect he had on them. Alicia also believed some of his troubles with women lay in the fact that he was a true empath. That he, unfortunately, had never learned to draw boundaries to his empathy which inadvertently led to his many ‘situationships.’

“I won’t lie Alicia. I know I have a woman problem. It’s like an addiction. The intimacy, the need to connect, the sex.” They were having lunch at the Hinlone Chinese Restaurant in Labone. The night before, as they lay in bed, Tony had told he loved her for the first time. Alicia simply smiled at his declaration, electing to play it cool although inwardly, she was beside herself with joy.

Flashes from the video.

The woman’s legs splayed. Tony’s thrusts. The glistening sheen of sweat.

“But I swear to you, most of my things with these women often start out because I pity them or I want to help them in some way…along the line, things just get muddled up and…I lose my way...”

The woman crying out in throes of pleasure.

Her mind was a broken dam. Thoughts, memories and conversations flooded her head and receded at their own leisure.

She wondered why these memories and conversations were coming up at this time. The video was still a freshly opened gash, one she had already accepted was going to be a large and permanent scar. But for the other flashbacks, she questioned their relevance to her current predicament.

He was always a monster. Why was I pretending all this time that he wasn’t? Who was I kidding?

The video was the bomb but Tony’s desensitized demeanor and harrowing forced confessions were the firestorm. She knew there was so much more he would have confessed to if she had had any more emotional stamina during her five-hour interrogation of the stranger she called her husband. She had been beyond foolish.

Time had lost its meaning. She had spent three days huddled in the corner of their bedroom tormented by her broken heart and mind.

Alicia just wanted to disappear.

xxx

One week and seventy-seven unanswered calls had passed since the explosive encounter. Tony wasn’t sure if Alicia was alive.

He was parked outside the Total House Clinic in Adabraka on a Saturday morning. Completely engrossed in his thoughts and yearning for divine intervention to offer him some guidance. Since his exposé, his mind had been in a fog that thickened with each passing day. The only silver lining were the test results from his urologist. Tony’s recent erectile issues were deemed a stress response and his dysfunction persisted due to a lack of proper rest. He needed to relax.

His wife was even more inaccessible now than she’d been during the miscarriage. For Tony, the miscarriage was a living hell made more intolerable by how suicidal Alicia had been. He was disappointed to have lost the baby especially after how hard they’d tried over the years but a small and, perhaps, darker part of him felt relieved. He didn’t think it was right to have conceived a child with his wife barely an hour after stealing sordid moments with another woman. A woman he met through his wife. In his mind, it was perhaps the universe’s way of warning him that he had gone too far this time. He would never have been able to look at that child without seeing Esi in his mind’s eye.

This time though, he had overstepped the good faith that the universe seemed to constantly extend to him. He knew his credit line with the powers-that-be was now in the red and would stay there indefinitely. His latest debt, while not his most damning by a long shot, was irredeemable. He had nowhere to hide. There were no more lies he could spin around Alicia.

But he needed her. He couldn’t lose his North Star. She was the only thing that prevented his chaotic nature from engulfing him or so he thought. Surely, after all these years she knew what she was signing on for. Why was she so surprised? That video was nothing compared to the numerous other unspeakables he’d committed over the course of their marriage. Of all the things to do him in, it had to be a twenty-minute porno. What a sick joke.

In a bloodrush, he let out a hollow scream. His mind was drowning in haphazard thoughts.

“What have I done? God what have I done?” he blurted out repeatedly at his steering wheel, as he fought to hold back tears.

“Why? Why now? Why did it happen like this?” he plaintively questioned.

No answer.

Deflated and resigned, he took out his work phone and called the only person who would always welcome him with open arms and accept him for the depraved and gluttonous animal he was.

xxx

Incense burned as Jill Scott’s ‘He Loves Me’ played softly from the soundbar. The room had been steamed to perfection.

The Executive Suite at the La Beach Hotel was their favourite love nest. Any sexual fantasy - from orgies to swing parties - either party happened to be in the mood for or could imagine, this was the room that staged its enactment.

Tonight it was just the two of them.

The toned, dark-skinned Ga woman on the bed was in her early seventies but inexplicably did not look a day past twenty. Tightly twisted Senegalese crochet braids, flowed magnificently from her scalp to her dainty waist. Her oval-shaped face remained flawless as did her soft, wrinkle-free skin. How she managed to defy time with her looks and poise was a much pondered upon mystery to all who knew her.

Dede was naked underneath a black, sparkling see-through gown. Her shea-butter glistened body glowed through the gown. A wet, willing and wanting goddess. Ready to be ravaged by her young midnight warrior. She rose to sit on her knees, directing her eyes to her nude captor’s crotch. She rendered a wry smile.

The warrior was flat-out flaccid.

“Mm,” she remarked, as she beckoned him to draw closer.

“Looks like our little man needs a little something before he comes out to play eh?” she teased in playful Ga.

He smirked as he approached her, only stopping when his groin and her face were level.

The mind-fog was still present but he closed his eyes as he begun to feel the slow and perfectly measured licking sensations in his nether region. Dede was always masterful with the things she could do with her mouth. Two lifetimes worth of experience to draw from.

Two minutes passed but Tony’s situation did not improve.

She paused to look up at Tony, “Is something the matter? You usually perk up for me with no effort. Have I done something wrong?”

“No…it’s not you love…,” he paused, longer than he’d intended.

“Just been under a lot of stress lately,” he sighed as he pulled away. He turned his back on the regal woman to look around the room for his clothes.

Dede wasn’t buying it. His tone. That pause. Something was definitely up. She had never known her beast to act or sound so tame in all the years she’d known him, not even during his grooming period.

“But you’re even more marvelous when you’re stressed…or have you forgotten Abidjan?” she asked, biting her lip.

He shrugged at her retort.

Tony was troubled by his recurring limpness.

xxx

Esi’s heart froze when she saw the Caller ID on her phone screen.

Alicia.

Why would Alicia be calling her? For what reason? Was it about Tony? Had she found out about them?

The phone was still ringing but Esi just stared at her mobile. A million worst-case scenarios flying around in her mind each time her ringtone looped over.

She decided she would not answer the call.

It’d been over eight months since they last spoke and the distance that had grown between them suited Esi, considering the increased frequency of her liaisons with Tony in those months. After years of clandestine maneuvers, she felt she was finally closing in on Alicia’s husband.

Both women had known each other from childhood. Esi even witnessed Alicia’s declaration of Tony’s marriage proposal.

The announcement was a mild shock for her at first but she remembered feeling something resembling happiness for her longtime friend. Alicia had found a man who could actually hold her attention. He had to be special. She’d seen Alicia turn down the most desirable of bachelors - a few of whom Esi herself subsequently sampled extensively - on countless occasions.

In her quiet moments, she sometimes wondered why her then soon-to-be-engaged friend seemed to routinely attract men of a higher caliber without even trying, while she often had to go above and beyond to pull a semi-decent man. She felt she was equally as - if not more - attractive than Alicia and just as accomplished professionally but somehow, she always seemed to come out second-best to her childhood friend when it mattered. These thoughts irked Esi more than she cared to admit to herself.

Alicia mirthfully introduced her old friend and soon-to-be-husband to each other a few days after her announcement.

Their eyes locked for a brief but intense moment during the exchange of pleasantries.

xxx

Nyarko Abronoma could not look at the man she called her son.

She was disgusted.

Why were the men in her family such cancers?

To the uninitiated, her family’s men were walking gods. Dazzling men who could bend the wills and desires of the staunchest hearts. They were gifted manipulators and they used their power to wreak havoc. Their preferred targets, were often women of high standing and character. They swarmed on these women like bees to honey. Once ensnared, their targets were mentally and emotionally stretched and bent beyond their limits, enduring relentless acts of gross disrespect and shame on account of these bedeviled men. And in no time, the prey merely became a shell of their former selves.

Nyarko, at the age of nine, saw her mother gradually lose her mind. A year later, a young Nyarko watched on as her mother was lowered into an unmarked grave. Both events, her father’s handiwork.

Her mother used to say that the men of Nyarko’s lineage were descendants of the fallen angels from the Book of Genesis. The Nephilim.

Even in her womb, she already knew Tony was one of them. Throughout her pregnancy, Nyarko prayed, fasted, sought the counsel of several spiritual leaders to save her unborn child. She desperately wanted her son to chart a different path than the men before him.

Tony didn’t know how to break the silence between them.

His mother had always been his trump card whenever things between him and Alicia were coming to a head. This time around though he was seeking his mother’s intervention as a Hail Mary. He knew she admired and loved Alicia. She would probably have traded her for him as her child if she had her way.

He told her what had happened, leaving out a few details.

Nyarko knew her son hadn’t told her everything.

She raised her head to observe her son. A beautiful boy with a Machiavellian heart. He was a poisoned chalice like his predecessors.

Tony looked away, uncomfortable with her soul-piercing stare.

“I can’t help you and I won’t,” she said in Twi.

He was stunned.

“I won’t let you drive that poor woman to the grave. If I help you, you are only going to repeat what your grandfather put my mother through and what my brothers did to their wives. Alicia is too much of a good woman for that. Too much. She deserves better. This time you have been exposed for all to see and we both know there are countless more lies and secrets behind those scheming eyes of yours!”

Tony’s throat tightened. He hadn’t anticipated this tirade from the old woman.

“You think I don’t know about you? The things you scurry around town doing like a possessed rat? I weep for Alicia everyday. I always pray to God to give her strength in dealing with you. You have no shame. Even during your wife’s miscarriage you had no decency, no respect for her, not an ounce of self-control. Hiding in and out of Accra with your concubines.”

Nyarko spat at her son’s feet.

“If anything should happen to Alicia, it will be on your head and I pray you pay for it.”

xxx

Three weeks and still no word from Tony.

Alicia’s call coupled with Tony’s prolonged radio silence led Esi to assume the worst.

She was driving back into Accra, via the Accra-Tema Motorway, after wrapping up a meeting in Tema's harbour area. Hawkers streamed along either side of her car, as she neared one of the highway's three toll booths.

Esi's mind was spinning. Everything seemed to be falling apart. Had she been stupid? Why couldn’t she be allowed to have her own slice of heaven? Was it a crime to want to be loved? She didn’t mean Alicia any harm but the connection between her and Tony was unavoidable.

Why was Tony all of a sudden ignoring her? Why weren’t they making love anymore? She knew he had a harem of ‘playmates’ he could call on but he always came back to her. Was he over her? Had somebody else taken her place?

Too many questions with no answers. She wracked her brain to think of a solution, a way out through all the madness.

Dede. The Madame. The old woman would probably know something. She and Tony were close, a little too close for Esi’s liking. But Esi figured that a woman at that age didn’t have that long to live, no matter how well she kept herself or how many boys she gobbled up, so Esi was fine with their relationship. Besides she was on good terms with Dede, the three had had some raunchy episodes through the years.

Esi called Dede and inquired about Tony.

“I last saw him about a week ago but I haven’t heard from him since then,” Dede stated.

More worry for Esi. He had gone to see Dede but had not even bothered to call her for three weeks? What was going on with him? Was he over her? She knew Dede had some skills but the old witch had enough boy toys to keep her satisfied.

Dede hummed an Erykah Badu tune. Esi forgot she was still on the line.

“Thank you Dede. I’ll give him a buzz again.”

“Dear girl, hold on for a second please.”

Esi was caught off guard by The Madame’s request. Outside of their fervid love-ins, Dede was typically brisk and forthright with her.

“Have you noticed anything…strange about Tony lately?” Dede asked, an almost mischievous lilt in her slivery voice.

“Strange? What do you mean?” a puzzled Esi asked.

“His performance, has it changed in any noticeable way?” The Madame was sipping on something in the background.

“Oh Dede…,” Esi responded bashfully.

“My girl let’s not beat around the bush. Is anything different or not?”

The sudden firmness in The Madame’s voice unsettled Esi.

“W-Well…recently he doesn’t respond to my touch. You know…,” she didn’t know why she was so shy in speaking to Dede about her sexual affairs with Tony. She had seen the woman on all fours.

Static on the phone.

“He can’t get it up,” Esi muttered feebly.

“Mm..I see. Thank you Esi, that’s all I needed to know. Best of luck reaching him.”

The line cut.

Why would Dede ask that? Was she experiencing the same issues she’d been having with Tony?

The suspicion that had been floating in Esi’s mind for the past few weeks was too absurd to now consider an actual possibility. It was impossible for that to happen to Tony, he was too red-blooded, way too potent for that.

It couldn’t be.

No...no..not Tony...

Tony couldn’t be…?

No!

It isn’t possible. Tony couldn’t be impotent. The mere thought alone was utterly absurd.

But how else could she explain his sudden limpness? Plus Dede would never have asked that question if she hadn’t noti---

Esi fatally rear-ended her Nissan Qashqai into a heavy cargo truck.

xxx

Their luxury three-bedroom apartment home on Second Circular Road, Cantonments, was a stone throw away from the U.S. Embassy. It was a $600,000 property that Tony had astoundingly managed to wind down to a sale price just short of a $100,000. Alicia used to call him ‘Puppet Master T,’ for his uncanny ability to always get what he wanted.

Tony lingered outside the apartment door for nearly half an hour. He was jittery.

A flurry of deep and quick deep breaths filled his lungs as he steeled himself and turned the doorknob.

The apartment felt hostile as if it despised his presence.

His sweep around his marriage home confirmed Alicia had packed up, that much was clear. Their bedroom was half empty, with no trace of his wife left in the room. Alicia was gone and she was gone for good.

A small stack of papers was neatly arranged on the bed. Divorce papers and a small sheet with a number to call when he was done signing. That was Alicia, methodical and precise, even in the worst of circumstances.

Tony sat on the bed, staring at the divorce papers.

He wanted to call Alicia but thought better of it. She’d probably blocked him on all platforms. When his wife didn’t want to be found, she did it well.

The die was cast. There were no more moves he could play.

Something vibrated under his left thigh, briefly snapping him out of his self-pity. He shifted his weight to find the smoking gun that had ended everything.

Tony unlocked the phone to find a freeze-frame shot of a busty Fola in a most compromising position. Alicia must have watched the video countless times, trying to make sense of it all. Her soon-to-be ex-husband zoomed out of the video application to the notification center.

Ato, his closest friend and fellow degenerate, had just sent him series of confusing text messages.

The first message read: “Bro...I have been trying to reach you.” Tony checked his call log to indeed find several missed calls from his main man.

Second message: “I don’t know if you’ve heard already.”

Third: “Bro…I’m so so sorry about Esi...I can’t imagine what you’re feeling. I’m so sorry bro. Please call me if you need me. I’m here for you…”

xxx

Marijuana smoke filled the air of the love nest.

Tony’s head lay buried in Dede’s bosom. He was silent, as Dede gently stroked his head and offered hushed words of consolation.

She drew a few more puffs from her joint and moved it down to Tony’s lips but her wounded warrior declined.

They stayed silent for a lengthy period of time as Dede spaced out from the weed.

Memories of a lifetime’s worth of sexual dissipation with her favorite boy streamed across her mind. Despite her wanton admiration for his sexual prowess, she had grown to develop an affection for her former protégé over the years.

The Madame, as Dede was referred to by Accra’s high society, had known Tony since he was fourteen. Even as a sprightly teenage boy - and much to her pleasant surprise - he oozed raw potential with his savage-like lovemaking abilities. By seventeen, the boy could do things she had never known men to be capable of. He had a frightening and near bottomless appetite that bordered on the frenetic, that even her infamous grooming techniques couldn’t temper.

She shed an unseen tear for her paramour’s wasted manhood. To be completely robbed of his virility in his prime was a cruel blow from the gods.

Dede nonchalantly crushed the end of the burnt-out joint into an ashtray on the bedside table.

“It’s a pity but it seems I have no use for you anymore, my dear,” she said sofly.

Tony was still, his eyes shut. It was what he expected from his Madame.

“There’s a young French couple coming by shortly. Quite the adventurous duo. It’s a shame you wouldn’t be joining us,” she sighed airily.

“A shame,” he whispered.

She started running rings around his lips.

“You’re of course welcome to stay and watch if you please my love,” she said somewhat coyly.

Tony slowly reached for her moving hand and kissed it.

He rose from his resting place, stretched to his full height, and promptly made his way to the door without looking back.

“Tony..,” he heard Dede call out before he shut the door.

Two spirited European-looking girls gaily passed him in the lobby hallway.

As he stepped onto the elevator, the vivacious couple turned around to take in the view of the brooding stud exiting the floor.

xxx

Tony hopped over the fence that separated the La Beach Hotel premises from the beach.

It was a little past midnight and the cool and salty breeze of the sea, soothed Tony’s mood. The mind-fog was clearing up. Whether the fog’s retreat was a result of the second-hand smoke from the weed or the effect of the beach, he wasn’t sure but he was grateful.

It was a moonless, starless sky. The ocean’s waves roared gently, calling to him. He had been here before, in another life perhaps.

He took in the scene before him one last time and smiled. All was fair.

Tony took the first steps towards his death.

xxx

#love accra ghana short story

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